The Sports Xchange

METAIRIE, La. – New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that rookie left tackle Andrus Peat was solid in his first NFL start on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Peat, the 13th overall pick in the draft this spring, was pressed into a starting role when left tackle Terron Armstead was sidelined with a left knee injury that he suffered the previous week against the Dallas Cowboys.

“I thought he did a lot of good things,” Payton said after reviewing the tape of Peat’s performance even though it included two sacks of quarterback Drew Brees.

Armstead would not have participated in Monday’s practice had the Saints held one, but was listed as limited Tuesday when the Saints returned to the practice field to begin preparing for the Eagles.

While Armstead may or may not be ready to go, the Saints are hoping to get four-time All-Pro right guard Jahri Evans back for Thursday night’s game.

Evans, who has missed the past three games after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee, returned to practice on a limited basis last week but was held out the Eagles game after going through warmups.

Evans worked on a limited basis Tuesday, which would be good news since left guard Tim Lelito, who missed one practice last week with a back problem, had to leave the Eagles’ game with a shoulder injury.

Lelito did not practice Tuesday. If he can’t go Thursday night, Senio Kelemete would likely start if Evans is able to return to the lineup.

–The Saints will play a Thursday night game at home following a Sunday game for the first time since Sean Payton became head coach in 2006 when they meet the Atlanta Falcons.

The last time it happened was in 1992 when the Saints, under coach Jim Mora, defeated the Falcons 22-14 on five Morten Andersen field goals.

The Saints did play one other Thursday night game at home, but that was the NFL Kickoff Weekend opener in 2010 following New Orleans’ victory in Super Bowl XLIV.

“We have to get ourselves ready for Thursday,” running back Mark Ingram said after Sunday’s 39-17 blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. “It’s a quick turnaround. It’s a division opponent. We have to put (the Eagles) behind us and get ready for Thursday.”