Orchard Park, N.Y. – Defensive end Hau'oli Kikaha was a healthy inactive for the third time in four games on Sunday, as the New Orleans Saints (6-2) put their six-game winning streak on the line against Buffalo (5-3) at New Era Field.
Kikaha has three sacks this season, third-most on the team, including one last week against Tampa Bay in his first game following two consecutive games being inactive. But the Saints this week were thinned in the secondary by safety Kenny Vaccaro's groin injury.
Vaccaro suffered his injury against Tampa Bay last Sunday, which pressed Rafael Bush back into service. Bush, who was a healthy scratch against the Buccaneers, swaps health-inactive status with Kikaha today. The move also continues to exhibit the confidence New Orleans has in rookie defensive end Trey Hendrickson (two sacks, two passes defensed and a forced fumble this season).
Bush gives the Saints four safeties for Buffalo: Bush, Marcus Williams, Vonn Bell and Chris Banjo. So they still will be able to employ their three-safety defensive packages if that's in the gameplan.
Also, right guard Larry Warford returns to the lineup after a two-game absence. Warford had an abdominal injury and sat out victories against Chicago and Tampa Bay, after suffering his injury against Green Bay. He participated in practice all week, so his return wasn't a surprise.
The rest of the Saints' inactives are: Taysom Hill (third quarterback); center Cameron Tom; offensive tackle Bryce Harris; receiver Austin Carr; and defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad.
