The Saints could be adding two big pieces back to the roster as they activate tackle Trevor Penning and cornerback Bradley Roby from injured reserve. Penning will be looking to make his NFL debut while Roby has sat out the four-game minimum and is set to make his return. 
Penning was drafted 19th-overall by New Orleans out of Northern Iowa with the intent for him to eventually take over at left tackle opposite Ryan Ramczyk. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old suffered a torn ligament in his foot during the preseason, landing him firmly on IR and putting a temporary stop to the always important rookie year of development.
The activation may not necessarily indicate that we will see Penning take over. His preseason performance showed that it might take him a little longer to fully make the jump from Northern Iowa to the NFL. He struggled at times with the transition, indicating that it may have always been the plan to allow him a year to adjust, learn, and gain experience.
When Penning was injured, it gave New Orleans the easy decision to start James Hurst at left tackle. Hurst has started at tackle for much of the last two seasons for the Saints but, while serviceable, has never been considered the answer at the position. Hurst missed his first game of the season last week in concussion protocol but has been cleared to return. He’ll likely return to his starting role after a one-week absence but expect the Saints to get Penning in the game. The more in-game experience Penning can get, the better he can adjust to the game at the NFL-level.
Roby will return and bolster the depth of a cornerback room that seems to be banged up every week. The team’s three top corners, Roby, Paulson Adebo, and Marshon Lattimore have combined to miss 13 games this season. Adebo’s injuries occurred early on in the season, and he’s been strong lately. The cornerback group can get a huge boost if Roby and Lattimore are able to play at 100% this week. Lattimore has been out for an extended period with a lacerated kidney but is inching closer to a return and made some big steps this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Even if Roby or Lattimore aren’t full-go for tomorrow, the Saints’ depth at the position will remain bolstered. The team has designated practice squad cornerback Isaac Yiadom to be a standard gameday elevation today, as well.