Saints’ Bush, Colston participate in practice

• By LES EAST
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Jun 8, 2009

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METAIRIE — The Saints had two of their biggest offensive weapons on the field together for the first time during mini-camp when Reggie Bush and Marques Colston participated in the final practice Sunday morning.

Both players are working their way back from knee surgery. Bush practiced Friday, then rested his knee during Saturday’s two practices. Colston was held out of team drills the first two days.

“Reggie and Colston are getting close right now,” Saints coach Sean Payton said after practice Sunday. “They received more work this morning and will receive some in the next two weeks. By the time, with training camp a week later this year, they should be ready.”

The Saints will have four Organized Team Activities this week and four next week before players take a break until training camp begins July 30.

Bush showed no ill effects from his knee surgery. Colston provided one of the highlights of the practice when he made a one-handed catch of a pass from Drew Brees on a slant route. He and Brees stayed after practice to run extra pass routes.

Payton said everyone should be healthy enough to begin training camp with two exceptions. Wide receiver Lance Moore was held out of team drills as he rehabs from recent shoulder surgery. Rookie linebacker Stanley Arnoux is likely out for the season after undergoing Achilles surgery.

Former LSU receiver Devery Henderson had a productive weekend, playing multiple spots as he stepped into Colston’s spot when Colston wasn’t participating. He and third-year receiver Robert Meachem received praise from Payton and Brees.

Running back Pierre Thomas was held out of team drills after bruising his left wrist in the afternoon practice Saturday. It’s the same wrist Thomas had surgically repaired in February.

Thomas was wearing a compression sleeve on the wrist to reduce swelling after practice. He said he hopes to fully participate in today’s workout.

Though Thomas was the leading rusher last season and is the favorite to be the leading ball carrier this season, Mike Bell was impressive throughout the mini-camp and could push Thomas.

Payton said he thinks fullback Heath Evans, signed as a free agent from New England, will be a better blocker than Mike Karney, who was released. Bush said he expects Evans will give the running game more versatility.

The Saints lost two tight ends to injuries during the mini-camp as Dan Campbell sprained a knee and Darnell Dinkins sprained an ankle. Campbell is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery today and will miss the remaining OTAs, but should be ready for the start of training. Dinkins could be back during OTAs.

Backup weakside linebacker Dan Morgan sat out the last three practices after suffering a calf strain in the afternoon workout Friday. Starting weakside linebacker Scott Shanle missed the last two practices because of a calf strain. Mark Simoneau was the first-team weakside linebacker during the last two workouts.