Irvine, Calif. – Cedrick Wilson Jr. had a simple, logical answer as to whether he's gaining the trust of New Orleans Saints quarterbacks as training camp progresses at Cal-Irvine.
"Trust goes up every time you catch the ball," he said following Wednesday's practice. "So hopefully I'm gaining more and more every day."
Undoubtedly, he's gaining more. Because Wednesday's practice was another positive day stacked by Wilson, another day in which the seven-year veteran sprouted open to make a catch or came down with a contested grab against the Saints' defensive backs.
"I think I'm fitting pretty well (with this offense)," Wilson said. "Kind of ran the same scheme the last two years (with Miami), so kind of definitely more comfortable than I would have been going somewhere else and trying to fit in. Getting more knowledge of the offense now that I know what's going on, I can get the better details of it and also help the other guys when I do know the answer.
"From a personal standpoint, I just want to put my best foot forward. Whatever is asked of me to do, that's what I'm going to do whether it's block, whether it's catch the ball, whether it's special teams – that's my personal goals."
HAENER BACK: Quarterback Jake Haener returned to practice Wednesday after missing Monday (the Saints were off on Tuesday). Haener missed due to a procedure for his skin cancer, which he called "rare" for someone his age (25).
"Everything went well, as far as I know," Coach Dennis Allen said. "Not really much of an update other than they feel like they accomplished what they needed to get accomplished, and I don't see there being really any limitations for the player moving forward."
DOUBLE D: Linebacker Demario Davis did not practice Wednesday – he has been out the last five practices, since injuring his hamstring on July 31 – but he did some work on the side with a trainer and also observed a significant portion of practice. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore also watched much of practice from the field, and receiver Equanimeous St. Brown did some side work with a trainer. However, rookie receiver Mason Tipton left practice early with a hamstring issue, joining the list of Saints – including cornerback Paulson Adebo (groin), receiver Bub Means (hamstring), running back Kendre Miller (hamstring), cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip), linebacker Pete Werner (shoulder) and receiver Rashid Shaheed (hamstring) – who missed Wednesday.
THE LITTLE GENERAL: New Orleans native and NBA champion Avery Johnson was present at practice and possibly will attend Thursday. Johnson famously gave an inspirational message to the Super Bowl XLIV-winning team, and was awarded a Super Bowl ring.
He was expected to address the team Wednesday afternoon.
LET'S GET IT STARTED: Allen said he's eager for the Saints to play their preseason opener on Saturday, against Arizona at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
"It's why you go through all of these things that we go through. Not necessarily for preseason games, but why you spend all this time practicing, meeting time. All these things are to go play the game," he said. "These games aren't going to count in terms of our record, but I think they matter. I think they're important for a lot of people.
"I think they're important for us as a coaching staff with a lot of new pieces on offense. Being able to get into those game situations, understand how the communication is going to operate, how the communication from the box down to the field to the players, our communication to the quarterback on the field. All those are things – getting our substitutions on and off – those are all things that I think are important things for us to get kind of ironed out over the course of the next three games in the preseason so that those don't become issues when we get into the regular season. I think we're all kind of excited about playing games."
THURSDAY: Thursday is scheduled to be a padded practice before the team travels to Arizona on Friday. Wednesday's practice was more installation (short yardage), and Thursday will highlight goal-line situations.
