By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
While he’s done it several time, Terrance Copper said that playing in the Monday Night Football game never grows old.
Copper and the New Orleans Saints will play the Minnesota Vikings tonight in the Superdome.
Copper, a receiver and special teams ace for the Saints, is finally close to 100 percent after sustaining a hamstring injury earlier in the season. The fifth-year player suffered the injury on the last punt of the game in a 29-24 loss to the Washington Redskins in the second game of the season.
Copper, who has been getting daily treatment for the injury, missed the Saints’ following game, a 34-32 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Now that he’s nearly back to full strength, Copper is hoping to get more involved in the offense. After snagging 46 receptions for 600 yards and six touchdowns in his first four seasons, Copper is yet to catch a pass this year.
Copper is looking to step up to help the team overcome the losses of top receiver Marques Colston and recently acquired tight end Jeremy Shockey. Players like Lance Moore and Robert Meacham have done a nice job in their absence.
Copper continues to draw praise for his play on special teams. The 6-0, 207-pound player, who has two kickoff returns for 35 yards (17.5 average), helped spring Reggie Bush for a punt return touchdown against the Redskins.
Along with his special teams and receiving chores, Copper is also the Saints emergency quarterback. However, Copper is hoping that nothing happens to starter Drew Brees or back-up Mark Brunell.
Copper doesn’t expect to be throwing any passes to his fellow receivers any time soon.
The Saints (2-2) will be looking to win their second straight when they tangle with the Vikings (1-3) tonight.
The Saints welcome the Oakland Raiders into the Superdome on Sunday, then visit the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 19.