New Orleans Saints

Saints officials cut ties with veteran CB Keenan Lewis, whose lingering hip/sports hernia issues kept him off the field.

“He’s 52 weeks post-surgery,” Saints coach Sean Payton said after his team’s 16-9 loss at the Houston Texans. “It was just trying to get him on the field.”

Lewis, 30, entered training camp on the league’s active/physically unable to perform list after missing the entire offseason because of hip surgery in December. After practicing one day, he returned to the sideline, where he remained until his unexpected release.

His 2016 salary of $2.7 million with the Saints is fully guaranteed.

Lewis’ release suggests secondyear CBs Delvin Breaux and P.J.

Williams will open the season with the first unit. It also might ensure jobs for recently signed 10-year veteran CB Cortland

Finnegan and promising undrafted rookie CBs Ken Crawley and De’Vante Harris. Second-year CB Damian

Swann also remains in the mix, though his future is less certain after he suffered multiple concussions last season.

Rookie watch: Top pick DT Sheldon Rankins is expected to be sidelined through mid- October after having surgery to repair a broken fibula in his left leg. ... S Vonn Bell led the Saints with eight solo tackles, one sack and one quarterback hit. ... Undrafted rookie WR-return specialist

Tommylee Lewis continues to state his case to make the roster with 74 all-purpose yards on six touches. ... In light of Rankins’ injury, defensive coordinator

Dennis Allen started DT David Onyemata vs. Houston to get valuable game tape on the fourthround pick.

Noteworthy: The No. 1 offense with QB Drew Brees is scoreless in four possessions after two preseason games. ... Starting WRs Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead were held out of Satur- day’s game for unspecified reasons. ... The Saints will wear No. 91 decals this season in honor of Will Smith, a two-Pro Bowl defensive end and No. 1 pick from Ohio State in 2004 who was shot and killed after a traffic accident in New Orleans in April.