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Another week of NFL action is behind us, meaning some New Orleans Saints players managing injuries are closer to returning from injured reserve. Now, being eligible to return isn’t the same thing as guaranteeing they’ll play on Sunday. Sean Payton characterized the situation last week as a more cautious process, saying: “Hopefully in the next, call it three to four weeks, we’re going to have some guys gradually coming back.”
Of the five players who could have returned a week ago, only one of them ultimately did — offensive lineman Will Clapp. So we probably won’t see everyone on this list suit up against Washington. It’s possible the Saints tap the brakes a bit and let them get two weeks of rest in with the bye up ahead, getting the team back closer to full strength coming out of the break.
With a road game with the Seattle Seahawks and a Halloween matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waiting on the other side, it might make more sense to phase some of these players back in alongside Michael Thomas (from the physically unable to perform list) and David Onyemata (from his 6-game suspension).
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Here are the names to know before the Saints begin making decisions in the days ahead: