Saints' Colston practices, may play vs. Raiders

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Oct 10, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:43 a.m.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston practiced on a limited basis for the second straight day Thursday after missing the last four games with a torn ligament in his left thumb.

Colston, who underwent surgery on Sept. 9 to repair the ligament, had the cast removed last Friday. He caught passes from quarterback Drew Brees for the first time since the season opener Wednesday with a splint on the thumb and worked again Thursday, an encouraging sign for coach Sean Payton.

That came one day after Payton said he was optimistic Colston, who originally targeted a return to the lineup later this month, could play in Sunday’s game with the Oakland Raiders in the Superdome.

On the other side, tight end Jeremy Shockey did not work Thursday. Payton said they wanted to rest him Thursday after he returned to the practice field Wednesday for the first time since having sports hernia surgery on Sept. 23.

“We saw Marques practice today, so in his case, again I was encouraged,” Payton said. “With Jeremy, I’ll just have to see where he’s at (today) and see how on the second day after his first day of practice yesterday, see how he feels. With Marques, he was out there again and we were able to see him moving around and functioning — and he did pretty well.”

Payton said he doesn’t know that there’s a risk factor in letting Colston play Sunday considering the equipment he’ll wear to protect the thumb.

“I don’t know that there is any,” Payton said about the risk. “There’s a splint that he’ll wear that prohibits any negative movement. The cast is off, and it’s just getting comfortable with the speed of the game and the flexibility with his thumb and his hand.”

Besides Shockey, five other players did not participate in Thursday’s practice. They were DT Sedrick Ellis (knee), FS Kevin Kaesviharn (back), WR David Patten, DT Antwan Lake (groin) and CB Aaron Glenn (ankle).

Ellis, who had his right knee scoped last Friday, will miss his second straight game against the Raiders.

Limited Thursday were Colston, CB Mike McKenzie (knee), T Jon Stinchcomb (back) and C Jonathan Goodwin (hamstring).

Payton and his wife, Beth, who this spring established the Play It Forward Foundation, will host their first Black and Gold Gala fund-raiser in the Superdome tonight.

The sold-out event will include the Paytons, Saints players and ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman as the master of ceremonies, with Jimmy Buffett and Irma Thomas serving as honorary chairs.