Saints' Brees 'pretty confident' he'll play vs. Panthers; Byrd, Lewis return to practice

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was a limited participant at team practice Wednesday, taking part in a few individual drills but not doing any throwing.

Brees' status was put in doubt after he emerged from the Saints' Week 2 game with a reported rotator cuff contusion. The nine-time Pro Bowler told reporters following practice that he's "pretty confident" he'll be able to play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

The Saints received some positive news on the defensive side of the ball Wednesday, as safety Jairus Byrd and cornerback Keenan Lewis were both in uniform for the open portion of the team session.

It remains unclear when the veteran defensive backs can be expected to return to the lineup, but their apparent progress is a welcome development for a defense that has struggled through two weeks to start the year.