Three Saints players will miss the Carolina game with injuries, and the loss of WR Devery Henderson is the most significant.
Interim coach Aaron Kromer confirmed Friday that Henderson would sit out Sunday after sustaining a concussion against Washington, leaving New Orleans very thin at receiver. Marques Colston and Lance Moore will be the only players at the position who caught a pass for the Saints last year.
“Joe Morgan’s going to have to step in and play a role,” offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael said. “Courtney Roby, all the guys we have at receiver are going to have to fill some spots.”
Roby last caught a pass in 2010. Morgan was on injured reserve last year as a rookie and dropped two passes against Washington.
The other receiver on the active roster is veteran Greg Camarillo, who re-signed earlier this week after spending a little less than two weeks in August with the Saints. Camarillo is coming off two disappointing years with Minnesota and is still learning the offense.
“He was here for a short period of time during the training camp,” Carmichael said. “He’s an excellent worker. He’s familiar with some of the terminology. He’s going to have to play a little bit of a role in this game as well.”
CB Johnny Patrick (right thigh) and DE Turk McBride also will miss the Carolina game. CB Jabari Greer and LB Scott Shanle are listed as questionable, although both of them practiced Friday.
Spagnuolo Apology: Talking to reporters on Friday for the first time since the 40-32 loss to Washington, first-year Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo did not mince words.
“We all, to a man, on defense feel like we let the team down,” he said. “I personally feel like I let Mr. Benson (team owner Tom Benson) down, (suspended coach) Sean (Payton) down and (suspended interim coach) Joe (Vitt) down. Hopefully, with a strong week of practice, with some prideful men that we have, we can get it straightened out.”
Spagnuolo added it was a tough opening assignment against gifted Redskins rookie QB Robert Griffin III.
“It was a challenge to play them the very first game, no question,” he said. “We really had no idea where they were going to go and what direction they were going to take that team. They have a great coach. The bottom line is we had a chance to make some plays and we didn’t.”
Praise for Jordan: Second-year Saints DE Cameron Jordan led the team with 11 tackles against Washington, an unusual occurrence for a lineman. Spagnuolo said it was no accident.
“He has been like that all training camp,” Spagnuolo said. “He has become a technician. He plays fast, he’s very intelligent and he has great change of direction.”
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSaints
