Cordy Glenn, Zay Jones not practicingIt wasn't much of a surprise Wednesday to learn that Cordy Glenn and Zay Jones would not be practicing on Wednesday. Both players did not participate in the team's abbreviated practice session on Monday coming off a long weekend off.
Head coach Sean McDermott wouldn't say if it was a setback for Glenn, who had made three consecutive starts.
"He's got some soreness in there and we're just trying to take it one day at a time," said McDermott.
When asked if having to play two games in five days put too much wear and tear on Glenn's foot, McDermott wasn't sure.
"I don't know. I'm not a doctor," McDermott said. "So, we'll just take a look at it and trust the training staff and their evaluation of things."
McDermott called Jones day to day on Monday.
Clay, Gaines to practiceThey won't be practicing in full Wednesday, but TE Charles Clay and CB E.J. Gaines will be participating with teammates as they make their way back from knee and hamstring injuries.
For Clay, it's his first practice participation since he suffered a knee injury in Week 5 that required surgery. When the tight end left the lineup in Cincinnati he was the team's leader in receiving yards.
If he's able to return to the lineup will help the offense work the middle of the field in the passing game.
Meanwhile Gaines has been missed in the secondary where Buffalo's pass defense has surrendered five passing touchdowns in the last three games after giving up just two in their first five outings.
Gaines has been out since suffering a hamstring injury midway through the win over the Raiders.
McDermott set to match wits with PaytonThe chess match that takes place between coaches is always interesting, especially when there are two head coaches whose background stems from opposite sides of the ball. That is the case this week, with Saints head coach Sean Payton, who still calls plays for the offense in New Orleans and Sean McDermott, Buffalo's head coach, who has a defensive background.
Having faced Payton in New Orleans, for the last six years, twice a season, McDermott holds the Saints play designer in high regard.
"It all starts from a foundation, for me, of mutual respect," McDermott said. "Knowing what they do, respecting it. One of the hardest parts is to get other people to understand, especially your first time going against this type of offense. What it takes to have any type of success against this offense.
"He's brilliant from that standpoint in terms of what he does with situational football. What he does with down-and-distance. What he does with personnel groupings, tempo. He's way ahead of the curve as far as that goes."
As defensive coordinator in Carolina, in the 12 times McDermott faced Payton with the Saints, New Orleans averaged 28.5 points per game. But in those 12 games McDermott's defense registered 26 sacks and 13 interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. They also forced seven fumbles over that span with six recoveries for a total of 19 takeaways.
