The New Orleans Saints gave us a couple of scares as they ended day two of their 2009 mini-camp with an afternoon practice. The good news is that Jammal Brown and Pierre Thomas are OK, despite leaving the field.
A little after 4:00pm Saints tackle Jammal Brown was gingerly walking to the Saints training room as many speculated what was wrong with him. It was hard to tell if Brown was favoring his knee or his back, and it wound up being neither. Brown was cramping and dehydrating which caused him to have a stomach virus. Brown was then brought in and given fluids.
Running back Pierre Thomas was injured on a run in which he burst through the Saints defense and Sedrick Ellis caused a fumble. Ellis came over the top, punched the ball out of Thomas' hands and hit his left wrist. Thomas reportedly had a bruised/sprained left wrist.
The highlights of the afternoon practice came from the defensive secondary. After making plays on the ball this weekend, but not being able to come down with interceptions, the secondary turned in a good effort.
Three of the Saints off season acquisitions all finally came down with interceptions. Jabari Greer, Malcolm Jenkins and Darren Sharper all grabbed interceptions in the afternoon practice.
"It was good to see the secondary come down with the ball," said WWL's Bobby Hebert. Greer and Sharper's picks were clean, while Jenkins grabbed his off a tipped pass.
Wide receiver Devery Henderson once again continued to have an impressive mini-camp, as he beat Greer up the seam for about a 40-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Drew Brees.
Mark Simoneau has also been making strides at a different spot on the defense. Once the Saints starting middle linebacker, Simoneau has now been working with the first team defense at weak side linebacker. Simoneau is in a battle with Scott Shanely and Dan Morgan to see who could possibly start for the Saints at that position.
Running backs Mike Bell and Lynell Hamilton both showed their explosiveness with nice runs. Tackle Jermon Bushrod did an ok job when he was called to fill in for Jammal Brown. And finally Saints back-up tight end Dan Campbell will undergo surgery on Monday to repair a torn MCL and TE Darnell Dinkens is also out with a sprained ankle.
"The good thing is that the Saints have a lot of depth at tight end and this gives a lot of other players a chance to get some reps and impress the coaching staff," said Hebert.
The Saints will practice once Sunday. It is not open to the public, but be sure and listen to all the action from the final day of mini-camp from Noon to 2:00pm on WWL 870AM / FM 105.3 and WWL.com.
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