Head coach Andy Reid met the media Saturday and declared that right guard Danny Watkins and wide receiver Mardy Gilyard are listed as out for Monday night's game, meaning they will not travel with the team to New Orleans. Safety Nate Allen has not practiced since Thursday with a hamstring strain, but will travel. Reid said Allen is day-to-day and will be a gametime decision.
If he can't go, Allen will be replaced by safety David Sims. Going against quarterback Drew Brees and the vaunted Saints offense is a challenge for any defender, especially one making his first start. But Sims knows he'll be fine if he just plays like he knows he can.
"It's a big challenge," Sims said after practice Saturday. "(Brees is) a great football player, everybody knows that. My eyes just have to be great. I have to read my keys and play my game."
Sims has taken the reps at safety for the past two days, and Reid is confident that the former Cleveland Brown will be able to handle making the right calls and playing well.
"He did a nice job," Reid said. "I think he feels comfortable with the defense. He feels comfortable with the calls he has to make back there. It looked like he had good communication, so if he can do it I think everyone has confidence that he can do it."
Reid also said that a decision on defensive tackle Mike Patterson will be made Saturday. In order to play, Patterson must be added to the 53-man active roster before Sunday. This means a player must be released prior to the game. Reid said he wanted to see Patterson in practice again Saturday, and was pleased with what he saw.
"He moved around well," Reid said. "There are no symptoms from the surgery he had with his head and brain. He's felt good all the way through workouts, and once he came out (to practice) he felt good."
Rookie offensive lineman Dennis Kelly will replace Watkins at right guard for the second week in a row. The fifth-round pick played admirably, and helped the offensive line put together one of its best performances of the season.
Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins was a full participant in practice Friday and Saturday, and said he plans to play. He is listed as questionable with a knee injury.
Cornerback and kick returner Brandon Boykin (toe), left tackle King Dunlap (hamstring) and defensive end Phillip Hunt (calf) were all full participants in practice and are listed as probable.
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