Cesar Ruiz returns to Saints’ practice

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints took their field ahead of their final game of the season with several players not spotted at practice. The team also saw a key return to its protection unit.

Here are the players that were not seen during the open portion of the Saints’ Wednesday practice:

The list of absences is startling to see at first, but the day was just a walkthrough so providing some players are dealing with nagging injuries (such as Olave’s back injury and Tipton’s groin injury), an additional day to heal up makes sense. We’ll get a better look at more consequential absences come Thursday’s practice.

There were two returns among those missing on Wednesday. Offensive lineman and starting right guard Cesar Ruiz was back on the field. His return comes just in time with Radunz missing to start the week. Practice squad quarterback Hunter Dekkers was also back on the field getting his first practice work in for the season since being placed on practice squad Injured Reserve at an earlier point in the year.

The afternoon’s injury report will provide additional context to the lengthy list of absences.