Day 3 Practice 1 report

- RB Deuce McAllister missed his second consecutive practice after having fluid drained from his left knee because of swelling and he'll have an MRI this afternoon.

"Any time you are coming off a major surgery you're optimistic and hopeful," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "It's just managing the injury and we'll get a little bit further look this afternoon with his MRI just to see where it's at."

- DT Brian Young also missed another practice with an ailing knee injury, as too did CB Mike McKenzie.

- S Josh Bullocks returned to the field for the first time in a few months after having his knee scoped in January. Payton said Bullocks will practice once per day to ease him back. He lined up with the second unit most of this morning's practice as Kevin Kaesviharn maintained his spot with the first team.

- T Jammal Brown also returned after missing the last three practices to attend a funeral.

- "I think it's getting closer," Payton said concerning getting first-round pick DT Sedrick Ellis into camp with a contract.

- Some transaction news to report as the team waived WR Carlos Robinson and long snapper Ryan Senser and signed TE Buck Ortega and WR Curtis Hamilton.

- The tempo of practice was a physical with the team spending a good bit of time going through blocking drills. The couple of reps that stood out were Will Smith bullrushing through Brown and Jonathan Vilma blowing past Reggie Bush and barely being touched.

Hollis Thomas gave Jonathan Goodwin fits as the beefy defensive tackle plowed through Goody twice to reach the tackling dummy. on a side note, Thomas and Anwtan Lake spent the morning working with the 1s on defense.

- Payton plans on CB Tracy Porter fielding punt during special teams drills, but he worked as a gunner this morning. After a tough day in punt-return drills yesterday, Bush had a far better day Saturday despite fighting the sun.

- In 11-on-11 work, Usama Young and Jason David lined up with the 1s with Randall Gay playing the nickel. Porter and Aaron Glenn manned the outside with the 2s with Craft at nickel.