SANTA BRINGS A SAINTS PLAYER ANOTHER SPORTS HERNIA
Saints head coach Sean Payton revealed on Thursday that yet another Saints player has had surgery to repair a sports hernia. Safety Usama Young underwent surgery in Philadelphia on Tuesday to take care of his hernia. Young makes it the seventh Saints player that has suffered a sports hernia in the past two seasons.
“It’s a unique number. We constantly pay attention to the experts in that field and try to continue to look at the different ways that we’re practicing,” Payton answered when asked of yet another player suffering the injury. ““That’s a good point. It’s tricky because often times you have symptoms of a groin and now the approach that we take is that we ask the question if it’s more than that. There’s no question that 10 years ago these things healed on their own and it was a long groin injury. Now we’re getting players back quicker and the procedure has obviously helped that.”
Young has already been ruled out for the game Sunday.
CARNEY BACK WITH THE SAINTS
Kicker John Carney has been hired by the Saints as a kicking consultant, two days after being released from the team.
“He’s going to help us just in regards to the operation of snap, hold, kick,” Saints Coach Sean Payton said in explaining his role. “It’s interesting to listen to his thoughts. I think he is a great mentor for Garrett, and he’s a guy that has been great for our team. So I know he’s excited about it.”
Carney’s role as a consultant does not allow him to return to the field for the Saints or any team the rest of the season, regardless of an injury to current kicker Garrett Hartley or offer from another club.
“He’s going to help us. I’ve learned more from him – he’s 45 or 46 years old, he’s my age – just in regards to the operation of snap, hold, kick. It’s interesting to listen to his thoughts. He’s a great mentor for Garrett (Hartley) and I think he’s a guy that has been great for our team.” added Payton. ” I know he’s excited about it. I don’t know if he had his whistle on today, but he’s going to be involved in certain projects in the kicking game and he’ll help Greg (McMahon) and Mike (Mallory) in that manner.”
The 45-year-old Carney ranks third in NFL history with 2,044 points scored. On the season, Carney was 13 of 17 in the field goal department, and 50-52 for extra-point attempts.
BUMPS AND BRUISES
Cornerback Randall Gay returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis after missing Wednesday’s practice while recovering from a concussion suffered Saturday against Dallas.
For the second straight day, Safety Darren Sharper (knee), linebacker Scott Shanle (concussion), safety Usama Young (sports hernia) and receiver Lance Moore (ankle) did not practice.
Players that practiced on a limited basis were: CB Jabari Greer (sports hernia), DT Sedrick Ellis (knee), RB Reggie Bush (hamstring), TE Jeremy Shockey (toe), OT Jermon Bushrod (thumb), OT Jon Stinchcomb (knee), G Jahri Evans (toe), C Jonathan Goodwin (ankle), TE Darnell Dinkins (foot), LB Jonathan Vilma (knee), LB Scott Fujita (knee), LB defensive end Bobby McCray (back).
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