Marques Colston Injury: Updates on Saints Star's Status and Return

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston sat out the beginning of training camp with an undisclosed injury and was on the physically unable to perform list, but he was able to return for the start of the regular season, as he was declared active against the Arizona Cardinals.

Colston didn't elaborate on what has slowed him down as training camp has gotten underway, but he did say he's "easing into" workouts, participating in seven-on-seven drills, via Mike Triplett of ESPN.com on Aug. 3.

Colston is entering his 10th year in the NFL and hasn't missed more than two games in any single season with the exception of 2008, when he played in 11 contests. Durability hasn't been much of a problem for the 32-year-old veteran.

After he sat out a minicamp practice in June to add to multiple missed offseason sessions, Colston indicated he wasn't dealing with a particular injury.

"When you play nine, 10 years in this league at a skill position, mileage is mileage," said Colston, per Triplett. "I'm just kind of in a mode where they want to manage that process throughout the year."

NOLA.com's Katherine Terrell analyzed the situation in that context:

As he continues later into his career, it won't be surprising to see Colston rest when New Orleans is able to swing it. The Saints need to keep him as healthy as possible in the coming years.

Star quarterback Drew Brees has long depended on Colston, and his only other dependable target in the current receiving corps is second-year speedster Brandin Cooks. The 2014 first-round pick is more of a slot weapon, so Colston's spot on the outside is all the more critical to New Orleans' success—especially after it traded stud tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks.

Proceeding with caution in handling Colston was the correct call, as the Saints hope to bounce back from missing the playoffs last season.