Saints safety returns to practice

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS — After missing practice on Thursday, the New Orleans Saints got a key piece back on defense. Safety Will Harris Jr. returned Friday after missing with a shin injury, an absence that caused a bit of a stir. Harris Jr. has been a fantastic addition to the defense quietly taking over the team’s starting safety next to star Tyrann Mathieu.

Getting him back in the fold ahead of the team’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles would be a big boost for the Saints’ secondary. Even though the Eagles are expected to be without top wide receiver A.J. Brown, the team will still look to push vertically. Harris Jr. would play a key role in limiting the explosive plays the Eagles may look to generate through the air.

The Saints and Eagles will release their final injury report of the week Friday afternoon which will include game designations. Starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore and tight end Taysom Hill were both again present Friday. Lattimore looked to be a bit more involved than Hill, but the final injury report will shed more light on both of their availability for this weekend.

Here is an impressively healthy attendance update for the portion of Saints practice open to the media on Friday:

Not seen:

OL Landon Young (Calf)

Returned:

S Will Harris Jr. (Shin)

DL Khalen Saunders (Calf)

Saunders was back at practice for a brief period on Thursday, but did not log much participation. That looked to have changed a bit on Friday. The starting defensive tackle was working in individual drills while the media was present, again showing progress toward a return. It still feels unlikely he would be back in his full role this weekend, but even a Week 4 return would be excellent for New Orleans.

This is the healthiest the team has appeared so far this season. Good news for the Saints before heading into what should be a raucous environment against the Eagles this weekend in the Caesars Superdome.