Four Saints starters are questionable for Sunday's opener against the Redskins, interim coach Aaron Kromer said Friday.
Two of them, WR Marques Colston (left foot) and CB Jabari Greer (groin) were limited in Friday’s practice. Two more, LBs David Hawthorne (meniscus) and Curtis Lofton (high ankle sprain), were full go but are not 100-percent healthy.
“It’s still a case where we have to check them out,” Kromer said. “We’ll give them 48 hours before the game and get them ready.”
If Colston is unavailable, the Saints could be down two receivers against the Redskins. Adrian Arrington, the fourth wideout on the depth chart, practiced Wednesday but did not practice Thursday and Friday as he recovers from August meniscus surgery. He is listed as questionable.
The only healthy receivers on the roster are Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Courtney Roby and Joe Morgan. Roby, a special teams ace, did not catch a pass last year. Morgan never has been active for a game.
Jonathan Casillas likely would start in place of the injured Hawthorne at WLB. Barrett Ruud, whom the Saints acquired in a trade with Seattle on Aug. 20, is the probable replacement for Lofton.
Greer missed all five preseason games after having sports hernia surgery. Johnny Patrick replaced him as a starter, but the Saints also might go with rookie fifth-round draft pick Corey White if Greer is unavailable.
Cadet active?: Undrafted rookie RB Travaris Cadet did more than just make the 53-player roster. Kromer said the Saints were strongly considering using him on kickoff returns against the Redskins if RB Darren Sproles needed a breather. Sproles, who set the NFL record for all-purpose yards last season, missed the last three games of the preseason with a minor knee injury.
While not committing to activating Cadet, Kromer appeared to be leaning that way.
“If Darren is a little tired, we can put Cadet in there, and also Lance Moore can return punts,” Kromer said. “If it’s a long drive and a guy gets tired, we can put someone else in (for returns).”
Fourth-and-1 decisions: With Sean Payton suspended for the year, someone else will have to make key in-game decisions. Asked who would decide whether to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Washington 40, Kromer said it would be a three-man committee -- himself, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and Drew Brees.
“I would say it’s all three of us,” Kromer said. “That’s a good triangle of trust. Obviously we have a plan for fourth-and-1 in that situation.”
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSportsNFLNO.
