Posted: Tuesday, January 03, 2012, 9:19 AM

Following their eighth consecutive win, New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith talks about how the team is playing going into the playoffs.

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Matthew Hinton/The Times-PicayuneTampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman is sacked by New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith in their January game at the Superdome.

What they’re writing about Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium:

Buccaneers face season-defining game vs. Saints (Tom Korun, abcactionnews.com)

Bucs need to dial down confidence (Pat Yasinskas, espn.com)

Josh Freeman another tough test for Saints (cbssports.com)

Drew Brees among 39 NFF National scholar-athletes in NFL (Phil Marwill, sportsnola.com)

The New Orleans Saints did not release an injury report after Sunday’s practice. They don’t have to make that official until Monday. But defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin and defensive end Cameron Jordan both spoke confidently about their hopes of playing Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.

“That’s the plan. Everything looks like it’s on track right now so I’ll be ready to go,” said Franklin, who has been out since he sprained a medial collateral knee ligament in the second preseason game. “I think (the timetable) is right where we had set it. I’m feeling good right now. God blessed me and healed me back.”

Jordan missed the last week of practices and the final preseason game with an undisclosed knee injury. But he spoke as if he expects to play and start on Thursday.

The Saints could certainly use both Franklin and Jordan to fortify a defensive line that will be without suspended defensive end Will Smith.

“It’s always good to have all the troops ready to go to war,” Franklin said.

Veteran defensive end Alex Brown announced Tuesday afternoon that he has been cut by the New Orleans Saints. Brown has started all three preseason games and been running with the first-team unit all of training camp.

He is the fourth Saints player to announce he has been cut as the Saints get down to the 80-man roster limit.

Brown posted the following on his Twitter account: “It saddens me to say that I have been released from the Saints because their a first class organization and I will miss it. Good luck to the guys and Who Dat Nation keep roaring… My family and I had a blast here.. Thanks.”

Brown started all 16 games for the Saints in 2010 after spending the previous eight seasons with the Chicago Bears. He had 39 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble for the Saints in 2010.

The Saints selected Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan in the first round of April’s draft but he hasn’t received much playing time in the first three preseason games. This move with Brown, though, probably means Jordan will get the starting nod at left end.

The Saints also picked up defensive end Turk McBride during free agency, but he has been playing right end.

Two Saints players – running back Chris Ivory and rookie defensive end Greg Romeus – remain on the failed physical list and are yet to practice in 2011.

Coach Sean Payton then released the following injury report following the team’s Sunday practice:

Not practicing due to injury were linebackers Ezra Butler (left hamstring and sports hernia), Clint Ingam (right hamstring) and Ramon Hunter (right quad); running back Joique Bell (left knee); defensive tackle Tom Johnson (left calf); cornerback Johnny Patrick (right knee); defensive end Jeff Charleston (ankle); and offensive tackle Alex Barron (left knee).

Wide receiver Adrian Arrington, who had missed four practices, returned Sunday.