Saints coach Joe Vitt says rookie WR Nick Toon will play Thursday

New Orleans Saints RB Darren Sproles will be held out of the final preseason game at Tennessee on Thursday, but rookie WR Nick Toon will get his first game action, interim coach Joe Vitt said Sunday.

Sproles played in New Orleans’ first two preseason games before sitting out the next two with a sore knee. Toon, the Saints’ fourth-round selection, injured his left foot early in training camp.

“He’ll play this week,” Vitt said. “He’ll practice hopefully on Tuesday.”

WR Andy Tanner will miss his second straight game with a sprained ankle, but Vitt said the Saints did not have any new injuries in Saturday’s game against Houston.

“I will say this is the healthiest that we’ve come of out any preseason game this year,” he said. “We have some players that were injured in the previous preseason games that will be full go this week, so we are slowly but surely coming back to full health.”

That list includes DT Tom Johnson (ankle), who has been cleared to play.

WR Adrian Arrington will not be ready after having meniscus surgery before the Hall of Fame Game, but Vitt likes his progress. He reacted strongly when asked why Arrington had not been on the sideline for the Texans game or at practice last week.

“He’s working his butt off to get better,” Vitt said. “He hasn’t missed a training session. He hasn’t missed a weightlifting session. He hasn’t missed a meeting session. I have to make a note to make sure he checks in with you, though, so you’ll know where he’s at.”

Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSportsNFLNO.