Saints strong safety Roman Harper did not participate in Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury as they continued preparing for Saturday’s NFC Divisional Playoff game with the San Francisco 49ers.
Saints coach Sean Payton did not elaborate on the severity of the injury, but acknowledged it happened in Saturday night’s 45-28 wild-card playoff win over the Detroit Lions.
“It was from the game,” Payton said. “We just kept him off it today and we’ll see where he’s at (Thursday).”
Wide receiver Lance Moore (hamstring) and tight end John Gilmore (toe) also did not practice, while middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma (knee) and linebacker Jonathan Casillas (knee) were limited. Wide receiver Robert Meachem (knee) had full participation.
Casillas, who missed three games late in the season and the game with the Lions, was able to work for the first time since re-injuring his knee in the regular-season finale.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Payton took his team outside for Wednesday’s practice on the natural grass fields, which he normally does when they’re preparing for a game that will be played outdoors.
The practice allows the Saints, who will play Saturday in Candlestick Park, to get used to the sunlight and feel of the turf.
The Saints were 3-2 in outdoor games in the regular season. They won at Jacksonville, Carolina and Tennessee and lost at Green Bay and Tampa Bay.
GINN LIMITED: Like the Saints, the 49ers also had a short injury list as backup tight end Delanie Walker (jaw) was the only player on the 53-man active roster who did not participate in practice.
Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (ankle) and defensive tackle Ray McDonald (hamstring), both starters, were limited as were wide receiver Kyle Williams (concussion) and cornerback Chris Culliver (knee).
BREES ON TARGET: In last week’s win over the Lions, Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw 43 passes with no interceptions, extending his postseason streak without a pick to 215 attempts.
Brees’ last miscue through the air came in the fourth period of his team’s 39-14 loss to the Chicago Bears in the 2006 NFC Championship game when Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher got him.
Brees finished the Lions’ game with three touchdowns and no interceptions and now has 16 TDs and only one pick in seven playoff games since joining the Saints.
KROMER TO TALK: Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer is expected to be interviewed by the St. Louis Rams for their vacant coaching position, according to a report Wednesday by Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer.
The report indicated that Rams officials may interview Kromer while the Saints, who leave for the West Coast on Thursday evening, are in San Francisco.
Kromer, who coached the Saints’ running backs in 2008, became offensive line coach a year later after Doug Marrone left to take the head coaching job at Syracuse University.
‘GREATEST MOMENTS’: As one can imagine, the Saints are featured prominently in “Greatest Super Bowl Moments,’ a new DVD released by NFL Films last week.
The highlight disc chronologically depicts the greatest moments of each of the NFL’s first 45 Super Bowls and the Saints, obviously, are featured in their 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.
A bonus segment on the surprise onside kick ordered by Payton to start the second half, which was called “Ambush,” is also included on the DVD.