METAIRIE, La. -- If this winds up being Marques Colston’s last year with the New Orleans Saints, a chest injury robbed him of a proper farewell.
Colston will miss his second straight game on Sunday after being ruled out for the Saints’ season finale at the Atlanta Falcons.
Rookie offensive tackle Andrus Peat (concussion) and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hip) also have been ruled out for Sunday’s finale. And running back Kendall Hunter was placed on injured reserve Friday after coach Sean Payton said he suffered an unspecified injury during Thursday's practice.
Payton said the Saints will call up a back from their practice squad. Payton didn’t specify whom, but the two likely candidates are running back Bronson Hill or fullback Toben Opurum.
Left tackle Terron Armstead (knee) is listed as questionable after not practicing all week. He has been playing through the nagging injury for the past two months.
Everyone else on New Orleans’ injury report is probable, including quarterback Drew Brees, who practiced on a limited basis Friday with his foot injury.
Colston’s season ended on a disappointing note just after he had experienced a mini-surge, catching two touchdown passes in Week 14 and another in Week 15. But he will now officially end his 10th season with career lows of 45 catches, 520 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games played. Colston also missed a game earlier this year with a shoulder injury.
Colston, 32, is New Orleans’ all-time leader in receptions (711), receiving yards (9,759) and total touchdowns (72). He could come back in 2016, though he likely would have to agree to a pay cut for the second straight season now that he has become a No. 3 option behind Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead. Colston is due $3.2 million in salary and bonuses.
Colston has not been available for interviews this week. He explained this past summer that his decision to return to the Saints was about more than money.
"I probably could have went somewhere else and maybe got a little bit more money. But the priority for me was to come back to an organization that I really enjoy playing for,” Colston said in June. “I enjoy coming to work every day and being in this locker room. And it's an organization that took a chance on me Day 1. That loyalty means something to me."