The New Orleans Saints returned to practice after an extra day of rest Thursday, though they’re still nursing some injuries as they head toward Monday night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma (knee), guard Jahri Evans (knee), tailback Mark Ingram (turf toe) and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (hamstring) did not participate in the team portion of practice.

Linebacker Jonathan Casillas (knee) returned to practice on a limited basis after missing the last two games. Also limited Thursday were defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin (ankle) and linebacker Ramon Humber (knee).

Evans suffered his unspecified knee injury last Sunday at Minnesota, but he came back in the game after being treated on the field. He said “more than likely” he will play Monday night and that he has been feeling better each day this week.

“Three days off definitely helped,” said Evans, who said he didn’t want to push the knee too hard on Thursday so he didn’t risk a setback.

Ingram has been out for the last two weeks, but he appears to be on the mend. He was suited up for practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering the injury, though he didn’t participate in the full-team work.

Both Vilma and Ellis have been missing practice time in recent weeks to back off their injuries, but they’ve still been playing in games.

NEW ORLEANS — Move over, Grover! One of the NFL’s top passers is heading to “Sesame Street.”

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is making a special appearance on Thursday’s episode of the educational children’s TV show. He visited the set a few months ago to record the segment, which co-stars the street’s furry red resident, Elmo.

The segment will air Thursday morning on PBS Kids.

Brees, who has two young sons, Baylen and Bowen, taped the segment before the start of this year’s regular football season. Brees leads the NFL with 4,368 passing yards, putting him on pace to break Dan Marino’s single-season passing record of 5,084 yards, which has stood since 1984. Brees led the Saints to victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV and was that game’s MVP.

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Hot off his Thursday (Nov. 17) appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Drew Brees will appear on Monday’s (Nov. 21) episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” scheduled to air at 3 p.m. on WDSU. Brees’ wife Brittany will also appear.

Among the topics discussed in the pre-taped appearance will be the Penn State scandal, according to a news release by the show.

An excerpt:

Ellen: I have to get your thoughts on this. I don’t like even talking about it. This subject matter is so distressing. I have to get your thoughts on Penn State and what’s happening right now with that.

Drew: Yeah, it’s tragic. It’s horrible. It’s disgusting and its just heart breaking to think that was going on for a 15-year plus period potentially there. You really wonder how deep it runs. How long it was being potentially covered up and all that stuff. We’re going to let the legal process take its course and they’re going to get all that dealt with. I think what’s also so disheartening about it is the fact that it’s the exact opposite of what collegiate athletics and everything is supposed to stand for. It’s supposed to stand for coaches being mentors for young men. Helping to develop them into the leaders in our society. So to think that kind of stuff is going on or was and maybe this isolated incident there during this period of time. It’s just awful.

Ellen: It really is. To supposedly protect the image of a school or a football team all in the name of that. It’s just really, really sad and angering.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees

The New Orleans Saints announced on their Twitter feed Monday morning that quarterback Drew Brees will appear on the ‘Tonight Show’ with Jay Leno on Thursday night.

Brees last appeared on the show in December of 2009, when the Saints were on their way to winning Super Bowl XLIV.

New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday after recovering from neck and chest soreness. That gives him a good chance of playing Sunday at Atlanta.

That’s key for the Saints since fellow cornerback Patrick Robinson appears more questionable with a stomach issue that kept him out of practice again Thursday. Coach Sean Payton did not specify what Robinson’s ailment is.

Receiver Lance Moore, meanwhile, missed practice Thursday with tightness in his hamstring. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma also missed practice again Thursday with his lingering left knee injury. The Saints appear as though they will rest Vilma for another week leading up to the Week 11 bye, though Payton said Vilma has not had any surgery performed. And defensive end Turk McBride missed practice with an ankle injury.

Tailbacks Mark Ingram (heel) and Chris Ivory (hamstring) remained limited in practice. Tight end John Gilmore (neck) also remained limited.

Left tackle Jermon Bushrod was back on a full basis after missing Wednesday’s practice with an illness.