METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints are getting the band back together.
After playing without all four starting defensive backs and their nickel cornerback Saturday night against the New England Patriots, three of them returned during a light afternoon practice Sunday.
Starting cornerback Keenan Lewis and nickel corner Delvin Breaux fully participated in team and individual drills. And safety Kenny Vaccaro made a brief cameo during the last set of team drills, though he sat out most of the team and individual drills.
Players have Monday off, so it’s likely Vaccaro will be closer to full speed Tuesday.
That just leaves cornerback Brandon Browner and safety Jairus Byrd. Browner has been out for more than a week with a leg injury, but he was pedaling the exercise bike vigorously by the end of last week. Byrd has been mostly MIA all camp with a knee injury, though coach Sean Payton has continued to insist the team is hopeful he’ll return during the preseason.
In other injury news:
Receiver Nick Toon remained sidelined after leaving Saturday’s game early. FOX Sports’ Ross Jones reported that he suffered a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks. If true, Toon could be in serious danger of losing out on a roster spot. Heading into this summer, the No. 3 receiver job was Toon’s to lose. But he’s been awfully quiet. I think Brandon Coleman has already passed him up. And now either Joe Morgan or Josh Morgan could supplant him as the No. 4 receiver.
Running back Khiry Robinson and linebacker David Hawthorne were new absences in practice. It’s unclear what they’re dealing with since neither was spotted leaving Saturday’s game with an injury. Both talked with the media in the locker room after the game.
