METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints receiver Willie Snead, guard Jahri Evans and nose tackle John Jenkins could be in jeopardy of missing Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers after they were held out of practice for the second straight day on Thursday.
All three players appeared to finish last Sunday’s game at Houston. But they all showed up on the injury report Wednesday with new injuries and haven’t been able to practice yet this week.
Snead is listed with a calf injury, which is different than the knee injury he had been playing through over the past month.
Evans is listed with an ankle injury, and Jenkins is listed with a concussion. Evans was the only one of the three in attendance for the stretching period before practice that was open to the media Thursday.
We will get a better feel for their statuses on Friday. If they’re able to practice, they might still be able to play this week.
If Snead can’t play, that could create more opportunities for tight end Benjamin Watson and receivers Marques Colston and Brandon Coleman.
Colston has not had more than three catches or 38 yards in a game over the past three games, but he would likely see a few more targets if he’s New Orleans’ No. 2 receiver behind Brandin Cooks.
Coleman, meanwhile, would likely slide up from the No. 4 receiver spot to the No. 3 spot. Coleman has not had more than two catches in a game since Week 2.
As for the rest of the Saints’ injury report:
Left tackle Terron Armstead was held out of team drills for the second straight day with a knee injury, though he was present for the early portion of practice open to the media. Armstead has been fighting through the knee injury for most of the past two months, so there’s still a good chance he will play.
Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe returned to team drills on a limited basis Thursday. He has missed the past four games with a lingering hip injury. But he said this week that he’s hoping to return Sunday.
Cornerback Damian Swann (concussion) and linebacker David Hawthorne (thigh) also practiced on a limited basis. Safety Jamarca Sanford (hip) returned to practice on a full basis.