Injuries pile up on Saints quick

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Sep 25, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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METAIRIE — The five-day period starting last Friday and ending Tuesday was a tough one for the New Orleans Saints.

Right in the middle of it, on Sunday, the Saints dropped a 34-32 decision to the Denver Broncos — a game they had a chance to steal in one of the most difficult places to play in all of pro football.

Before, during and after that disappointing loss, an already injury-riddled team took some major hits. And most of them were to an offense that ranks fourth in total yards through the first three weeks of the season.

As a result, the 1-2 Saints will be without their top two tight ends and left guard and will likely be missing their left tackle and a starting wide receiver when they face the 2-1 San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in the Superdome.

Even though the injury bug had already taken a huge bite out of the Saints in their first two games, it got worse starting Friday when backup tight end Mark Campbell went down with a hamstring injury.

In Sunday’s game, left tackle Jammal Brown (hip) and wide receiver David Patten (groin) were hurt, as were cornerback Randall Gay (hamstring) and linebacker Troy Evans (ankle), although Evans finished the game.

On Monday, it was learned that tight end Jeremy Shockey would need surgery to repair a sports hernia and on Tuesday, starting left guard Jamar Nesbit was suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances.

When the Saints returned to practice on Wednesday, 13 of the 53 players on the active roster were listed on the injury report that Sean Payton filed with the NFL office.

Not participating in practice were Campbell, Shockey, Patten, Gay, Evans, wide receiver Marques Colston (thumb), fullback Mike Karney (ankle) and cornerback Aaron Glenn (ankle).

Brown, strongside linebacker Scott Fujita (knee), running back Aaron Stecker (hamstring), defensive tackle Antwan Lake (groin) and wide receiver Terrance Copper (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis.

All told, 14 players who were on the opening-day roster on Sept. 7 have been sidelined for at least one game with a total of 25 games missed. That number will grow by at least one with Shockey out and up to three more if Patten, Brown and Karney can’t go against the Niners.

It’s causing major headaches for Payton and his coaching staff, who are trying to end a two-game losing streak.

“There are a few things that are different. First with the practices, because you’re limited with the number of bodies that you do have and then with the personnel in regards to game day,” Payton said of the challenges they face this week. “Those are the challenges that we have, and we have to battle through it. That’s really all you can do.”