METAIRIE, La. — Four key players are listed as questionable for the Saints’ Thanksgiving Day showdown with the Dallas Cowboys.
Running back Reggie Bush (fibula), safeties Darren Sharper (hamstring) and Malcolm Jenkins (neck) and tight end Jeremy Shockey (rib) all were limited Wednesday and given a 50-50 shot at playing in the franchise’s first-ever Turkey Day soiree.
Meanwhile, running backs Pierre Thomas (ankle) and Ladell Betts (head/neck) are out.
With Thomas and Betts both being out and only Ivory and Julius Jones being healthy, there’s a likely chance that Bush finally gets off the sideline and onto the game field for the first time since breaking his fibular against San Francisco on Sept. 20.
“The trick is just making sure that he’s able to do the things we ask of him,” Head Coach Sean Payton said. “The challenge this week was that we just didn’t have the full speed. … I’m optimistic and I said that yesterday, with his progress.”
For Bush, he’s done guessing whether he returns or not. He thought he would play this past Sunday against Seattle.
“My gut feeling? I don’t know,” Bush said. “My gut feeling last week was that I was playing so I’m not following my gut feeling this week.”
Other injury listings:
Left tackle Jermon Bushrod (knee, full), defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (quad, limited), defensive end Junior Galette (shoulder, full), center Jonathan Goodwin (back, limited), defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove (knee, limited), Ivory (shoulder/knee, full), cornerback Patrick Robinson (ankle, full) and safety Usama Young (calf, limited) are all probable.
For Dallas, linebacker Bradie James (knee, full) and cornerback Terence Newman (ankle, full) are probable while running back Felix Jones (hip, limited) is questionable. Defensive end Sean Lissemore (ankle) and quarterback Tony Romo (shoulder) are both out.