The Saints activated DE Will Smith and cut WR Adrian Arrington among a series of roster moves they announced Saturday, a day before the season opener against Washington.
Smith became eligible to play Friday when a three-man appeals panel lifted the four-game suspension NFL commissioner Roger Goodell levied for Smith’s role in the bounty scandal. It may be a temporary reprieve –- Goodell may slap the same suspension on him next week -- but the Saints will use him against the Redskins.
Arrington, who had nine career catches while spending most of his time on the practice squad the past three years, entered training camp as the Saints' No. 4 receiver after Robert Meachem signed with San Diego in the offseason.
Arrington missed all five preseason games with a meniscus injury that required surgery, but then-interim coach Joe Vitt insisted he had done enough in the past to warrant a roster spot when he returned.
Arrington practiced Wednesday but sat out the rest of the week after telling coaches his knee had gotten sore on Wednesday night.
His absence leaves the Saints with Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Courtney Roby and Joe Morgan at receiver.
Roby and Morgan did not catch a pass last year, and Colston is questionable for Sunday’s game with a foot injury.
In other moves, the Saints put LBs Jonathan Vilma and Barrett Ruud on the exempt-commissioner’s permission list. That exception stems from Smith and Vilma coming off suspension two days before the game. Vilma is not ready to play due to a lingering knee injury and not having practiced with the team since starting what was supposed to be a season-long suspension on June 3.
The Saints also placed reserve OT Marcel Jones on injured reserve. Jones hurt a knee in practice on Wednesday. Without Jones, New Orleans has three tackles –- starters Zach Strief and Jermon Bushrod and backup Charles Brown.
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter@CBSSportsNFLNO.
