AP

The Saints kept nine players listed as linebackers when they cut their roster down to 53 players on Saturday and one that has been out of action for the last few weeks could make his return to the field in time to play in the season opener against the Falcons next weekend.

Ramon Antonio Vargas of the Baton Rouge Advocate reports that “there’s a possibility” that Jonathan Vilma could be in the lineup for that game. Vilma had arthroscopic knee surgery in the middle of August, adding to a long list of knee troubles throughout his career and raising some concern that he might not be able to return this season.

His recovery is reportedly going well, however, and the Saints obviously thought the chances of that scenario were slim enough to keep Vilma on the active roster as opposed to placing him on injured reserve.

Before Vilma was hurt, he was ticketed for a starting job alongside Curtis Lofton at inside linebacker. David Hawthorne has been filling in for Vilma the last few weeks and would presumably get the start in the event Vilma isn’t able to play in Week One.