Four Saints veterans able to practice

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Sep 5, 2008 - UPDATED: 8:45 a.m.

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Four key veterans coming off injuries participated fully in practice for the second straight day on Thursday as the New Orleans Saints continued their preps in Indianapolis for Sunday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

RB Deuce McAllister (knee), CB Mike McKenzie (knee), DT Brian Young (foot) and TE Jeremy Shockey (fractured leg) all worked at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Saints coach Sean Payton added RB Aaron Stecker to the injury list filed with the league office after Stecker was unable to practice because of a slight hamstring injury.

Payton said Stecker’s status for Sunday’s game was unknown and he would be re-evaluated today. DT Hollis Thomas (torn triceps) also did not practice and will not play against the Bucs. LBs Mark Simoneau (back) and Troy Evans (ankle) were limited.

After wrapping up their heavy work Thursday, the Saints will practice again today in Lucas Oil Stadium as they did Monday and Wednesday after fleeing New Orleans on Saturday in advance of Hurricane Gustav.

The Saints will return home tonight to their Metairie training facility, where they will hold a final walkthrough Saturday morning. The team will face the Bucs in the Superdome at noon Sunday to open their 42nd NFL season.

The Saints on Wednesday added FB Olaniyi Sobomehin and DT Remi Ayodele to their practice squad and now have a full complement of eight players on the roster. They joined the six signed earlier this week — WR Skyler Green, TE Buck Ortega, DE Josh Savage, G Tim Duckworth, LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar and RB Lynell Hamilton.

The Saints also will have RB Jermaine Allen, an international practice squad player, with them throughout the season.

Thirteen of the last 18 games between the Saints and Bucs since 1992 have been decided by a touchdown or less, with the Saints holding an 8-5 edge in those contests.

Also, the Saints and Bucs have met 12 times since they joined the NFC South when the NFL realigned for the 2002 season. The teams have split those 12 games although Tampa Bay has emerged with a victory in six of the last nine matchups.