METAIRIE, La. ? Coach Sean Payton confirmed that wide receiver Marques Colston has been cleared to play at Jacksonville, though Payton said he doesn?t anticipate him getting 50 snaps in the game.
Colston came back faster than expected from the broken collarbone he suffered in Week 1. Among other things, he credited a hyperbaric chamber that he slept in at his home for helping the speedy recovery.
Having Colston on the field will force the Jaguars to ?pick their poison? against the versatile Saints offense. If they choose to leave him in single coverage against a linebacker or small corner, the Saints will take advantage.
Otherwise, his presence should draw some attention away from fellow playmakers like tight end Jimmy Graham, receivers Lance Moore, Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson, and pass-catching tailback Darren Sproles. Graham could be the biggest beneficiary of that bunch because he and Colston are similarly built.
Notes: Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday, a good sign that he might be able to return from an unspecified injury Sunday at Jacksonville.
Vilma, who joined the Saints in 2008, missed his first game because of injury with the team last week. Experienced backup Jo-Lonn Dunbar was solid in his place, but the Saints would love to have Vilma back, both for his playmaking and his leadership.
The 6-1, 230-pounder is a bit undersized for his position, which occasionally gets him stuck in traffic. But he has great speed and instincts, which allow him to make a ton of tackles. He?s also good for some timely interceptions, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries ? like the one he landed on against Chicago in Week 2 while he was playing through his current knee injury.
Perhaps most important, Vilma is an extension of coordinator Gregg Williams on the field, making the calls to get his teammates lined up and adjusted. If Vilma can play extensively at Jacksonville, Dunbar can slide over to the strongside linebacker spot, where he started eight games last season.
The Saints are banged up at that spot, with both Will Herring and Martez Wilson questionable for Sunday. But even if those guys are healthy, Dunbar might be the best man for the job based on how he has been playing lately.
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