The Sports Xchange

METARIE, La. — Is this a sign that the New Orleans Saints miss tight end Jimmy Graham, whom they traded to the Seattle Seahawks, or a move to get something for a player whose stock dropped?

The Saints acquired tight end Michael Hoomanawanui Wednesday from the New England Patriots in exchange for New Orleans’ starting left defensive tackle Akiem Hicks.

Hicks, who started 33 games since joining the Saints as a third-round draft pick in 2012, told reporters last week that he was benched in the third quarter of a Week 2 game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and last week played only in the nickel package against the Carolina Panthers.

Hicks lost some of his snaps to undrafted free agent Bobby Richardson, who impressed in training camp and was one of several rookies the Saints kept on the active roster when final cuts were made.

After a meeting last week with head coach Sean Payton, Hicks, who was in the final year of his rookie contract, played only 28 of a possible 65 snaps against the Panthers. He had 6.5 sacks and 69 total tackles in his career with the Saints.

Hoomanawanui has caught 40 passes for 518 yards with four touchdowns in his six-year NFL career. He played in the first two games with the Patriots, but was inactive Sunday.

–Cornerback Keenan Lewis, the team’s best cover corner who had hip surgery in early September, said Wednesday he’ll play for the first time this season against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

“I’m up,” he said. “I’m definitely going to be out there.”

Lewis said how many snaps he gets will be up to the coaching staff.

“I do see Keenan having a real good chance to play this week,” Payton said during his daily teleconference on Wednesday morning. “We have got to be smart with his first week back, just with a total pitch count. But it’s a good problem to have.”

First-year player Delvin Breaux has done a good job in Lewis’ absence, but could move over to the right corner spot after Brandon Browner struggled in last week’s game at Carolina. Or he could wind up in the nickel spot.

Breaux and Browner have played all but three snaps on defense, while rookie Damian Swann averages 37 snaps a game as the nickel.

–The Saints may get even more relief for their injury-riddled secondary if free safety Jairus Byrd can come back soon.

Byrd, who signed a $56 million contract with the Saints in the spring of 2014, hasn’t played since last Sept. 28 because of a knee injury that he suffered in practice. But he returned to practice late last week.

His return would be a huge boost because the Saints lost his replacement, Rafael Bush, to a torn pectoral muscle in the season opener.

Bush was put on injured reserve and replaced the last two weeks by Kenny Phillips, who was released on the final cuts after not playing in the NFL since 2012.

–Payton said this week there weren’t any bad feelings between himself and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan over a heated discussion they had in last week’s loss to the Panthers.

They had an animated talk on the sideline after the Saints were caught with 12 defenders on the field.

“It (the argument) was the emotions of the game,” Payton said. “It was (about having) too many guys on the field.”

The Saints, who finished 31st in the NFL in total defense last season, rank 29th through the first three weeks of the season.

Notes: Quarterback Drew Brees (bruised rotator cuff) threw some during practice Wednesday and will decide by Friday if he’ll play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. … Among those who did not practice Wednesday were right guard Jahri Evans (knee) and his availability for Sunday night’s game is unknown and right defensive end Cameron Jordan (back). … Among those who were limited in practice Wednesday were left cornerback Keenan Lewis (hip), free safety Jairus Byrd (knee), linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (toe) and wide receiver Brandin Cooks (ankle).