At the very least Terron Armstead Jersey , warmly in the corner of Saints headquarters where the defensive backs' lockers are clustered.Apple's former Ohio State teammates, cornerback Marshon Lattimore and safety Vonn Bell, took care of that."We're glad to have him," Bell said, smiling widely.Added Lattimore, "I know what he's capable of. I know the skillset. He's a great player, a big player, strong. He's got good feet. He's going to get it right."For the Saints' sake, he'd better.New Orleans enters its Week 8 test at Minnesota ranked 28th in the NFL against the pass, allowing nearly 276 yards per game through the air. Making matters worse has been the timing of some the Saints' coverage busts, most recently at the end of Sunday's victory at Baltimore , when Ravens receiver John Brown caught what should have been a tying touchdown pass in the final half-minute with no defender near him. Baltimore's extra point kick sailed wide, however, and New Orleans (5-1) escaped with another victory.In Week 2 against Cleveland , the Saints gave up a game-tying, 47-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Calloway with 1:16 to go and would have fallen behind if kicker Zane Gonzalez hadn't missed an extra point. New Orleans then needed a field goal with 21 seconds left to clinch that victory.Lattimore said New Orleans has been "terrible" in 2-minute defense.So when the Saints had an opportunity on Tuesday to acquire Apple , who was a 2016 New York Giants first-round draft choice, in exchange for a 2019 fourth-round draft pick and 2020 seventh-rounder, they seized it."We felt like it was in our best interest," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We felt like it was going to help us this year."Apple, 23, practiced with New Orleans for the first time on Wednesday. And while his status for this Sunday's game remains unclear, he said he was "very excited" to be traded to New Orleans from the languishing Giants, a team with which he has struggled at times and come under public criticism from teammates and staff."It's a great organization here, a lot of great players Cameron Jordan Jersey Salute to Service , too," Apple said after his first Saints practice. "I just can't wait to come in and contribute."Apple's future in New York seemed tenuous since the 2017 season, when Giants safety Landon Collins called Apple a "cancer," and when Apple also was suspended for confrontational behavior toward coaches during practice.This season, however, Apple seemed to be following through on his pledge that his attitude would be "all business." In five games with the Giants this fall, he'd made or assisted on 22 tackles, defended five passes, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.Asked in New Orleans if he needed a change of scenery, Apple responded, "I wouldn't necessarily say I needed it, but it's great to have one right now.""A lot of juice around here," Apple added. "A lot of excitement."Payton, who normally emphasizes the importance of character in the players he acquires, said he was comfortable Apple could help after speaking with the defensive back's former teammates who now play for the Saints."It's not uncommon that we would visit with certain players on a roster about guys they might've played with in college or maybe with prior to (on) another NFL team," Payton said. "We felt good on the information. We like the skillset and we're excited."In addition to Lattimore and Bell, Apple was Ohio State teammates with receiver Michael Thomas and often competed against him in practice."It was a heavy-weight fight every day," Bell recalled, adding that both players practiced so intensely they had to be physically separated a few times. "It was competing at its best."Notes: Left guard Andrus Peat, who sat out Sunday's game in Baltimore with a head injury that had occurred in practice the previous week, returned to practice on Wednesday and said he expects to play this week. ... Center Max Unger (hand) and reserve guard Josh LeRibeus (ankle) sat out practice. ... Safety Marcus Williams practiced, but was listed on the Saints' injury report with a groin injury. The Denver Broncos are holding out hope that Chris Harris Jr . can return from a broken right leg in a month 鈥?and that they'll be in the playoffs to make it matter."He's week to week and he won't go to IR," coach Vance Joseph said Monday. "He needs rest and rehab and we'll see how it falls in a (few) weeks. I think it's great news for Chris. He has time to hopefully recover and heal up and hopefully we're still playing."The star cornerback's fractured fibula marred the Broncos' 24-10 win at Cincinnati on Sunday.Harris said he expects to return for the Chargers game in the regular-season finale on Dec. 30."I always heal fast," said Harris, who walked into the locker room Monday and nonchalantly ditched his crutches three steps from his locker as he checked messages on his cellphone. "I've got the right people around me to help me heal fast. And I'll work night and day to get back. So Michael Thomas Jersey Salute to Service , my goal is three weeks. They said four. But my goal is three weeks because I want to play against San Diego."Actually, the Chargers now hail from Los Angeles, but you get the point.Harris hopes there's still a lot more for him to do on the football field this season.He said he's not concerned his injury will tarnish what was shaping up as another All-Pro-caliber season."I've been guarding the best receivers every week. My numbers speak for themselves," he said. "I've got to be top in the metrics every category almost. Everybody knows I was the best corner this year so far."Harris won't be on the field now against San Francisco, Cleveland and Oakland, three teams with a combined 8-27-1 record, but that doesn't mean he won't still be contributing to the Broncos' playoff push."I'm in the meeting room, I'm like an extra coach," Harris said, planning to continue his tutoring of defensive backs."His leadership is critical for our young back end," Joseph said. "He's a very, very smart football player, so the things he finds in his film study no one else finds. So, absolutely, having him around is going to help us."Joseph said defensive end Derek Wolfe (torn rib cartilage) and rookie inside linebacker Josey Jewell (mild high ankle sprain) are both day to day while cornerback Tramaine Brock (thigh) and linebacker Brandon Marshall (knee) are expected back this week.Joseph declined to give a best-case scenario for Harris' return but did say his loss won't force a change in Denver's defensive philosophies.After Harris got hurt, free safety Justin Simmons moved over to nickel cornerback and kept receiver Tyler Boyd in check in Denver's heavy employment of dime defenses with safeties Will Parks and Su'a Cravens.Brock's return this week would give Joseph more options against the 49ers.The Broncos have won three in a row for the first time since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015, but they're still on the waiting list for the AFC playoff party.So, Joseph is rehashing his "small focus, big picture awareness" mantra that he's been preaching ever since the Broncos stumbled into their bye week at 3-6."We can't chase the highlights and who's winning, who's not winning," Joseph said. "That can't be our focus. Our focus has to be to play our best ball on Sunday. At the end, we'll see where we are."And whether Harris is back on the field with them. Custom Washington Redskins Jerseys