Could the Saints be closer to putting Jared Cook in a game with Drew Brees?

This was the first practice from which an injury report will be provided later in the day.

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints put two of their top players back on the field Thursday.

In the first practice from which an injury report will be provided later in the day, the Saints had linebacker Alex Anzalone and tight end Jared Cook going through individual position-group workouts during the 20 minutes of practice open to media.

Also back on the field was linebacker Craig Robertson, a top backup who also plays extensively on special teams.

To have all three active Monday for the opener against the Houston Texans would provide an obvious benefit. Neither practiced in recent weeks because of undisclosed injuries.

The Saints showed through training camp a good connection between quarterback Drew Brees and newly-acquired tight end Cook. They haven't shown it yet in a game, however, as Cook did not play in the one preseason game Brees played against the New York Jets.

In that game, Brees put the ball in the hands of either Michael Thomas or Alvin Kamara on six of the eight snaps the quarterback played on the opening drive.

The Saints should be eager to put Cook on the field with the first-team offense. 

The Texans aren't quite sure what to expect.

"These first games are always tough because you don't have a lot of video evidence from the preseason to go on," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said during a media conference call Wednesday. "So you're going off previous years and things like that."

As for Anzalone, coach Sean Payton said early in the week he expected the third-year player to be healthy for the opener.

The coach seldom divulges much about injuries.

In 16 games last season, Anzalone had 59 total tackles with two sacks and three forced fumbles. The Saints have a strong linebacker group with A.J. Klein and Demario Davis as the other returning starters, along with top backup Craig Robertson.

Anzalone did not play or practice since the first preseason game against the Vikings.

For the Saints, putting Cook on the field could be a positive step toward having what should be another explosive offense in New Orleans.