Saints' Sharper hopes to play Sunday

Saints All-Pro safety Darren Sharper says he feels good and hopes to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Wearing a brace on his left knee, Sharper practiced for the first time this season on Wednesday. He began the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list while recovering from microfracture surgery.

Now in his 14th season, Sharper says he feels fresh, in shape and doesn't really feel rusty.

Saints coach Sean Payton described Sharper's first day of practice as, ''pretty good.'' Payton stopped short of saying Sharper would play this weekend and added that he would be evaluated daily.

The Saints have about three weeks before they must either activate Sharper, place him on injured reserve or release him.