METAIRIE, La. — Drew Brees is expected to return as starter for New Orleans against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night in the Superdome, Saints Coach Sean Payton said Friday.

“We’re planning on starting him, based on the work week,” Payton said after practice. “He’s thrown well. I thought he looked sharp today.”

Brees missed the Saints’ 27-22 loss in Carolina last Sunday because of a bruised rotator cuff. The injury occurred on a hit in the second quarter of New Orleans’ Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay. Brees never took himself out of that game, but did not appear to perform at his normally high standard, finishing 24 of 38 for 255 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Brees then did not throw during practice in Week 3, but started taking first-team snaps at practice again this week, saying on Wednesday that he planned to steadily expand the variety of throws he attempted as the week wore on.

“He looks good. He’s been throwing it good and having good zip on it,” said Saints running back Mark Ingram, a regular passing target out of the backfield in New Orleans’ offensive scheme.

COLTS: Quarterback Andrew Luck will likely be a game-time decision to play against Jacksonville on Sunday.

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He was listed as questionable Friday after he was limited in practice for the third straight day with a sore right shoulder. Coach Chuck Pagano gave no indication of the extent of Luck’s participation or how much Luck has thrown this week.

If Luck doesn’t play, backup Matt Hasselbeck is expected to start.

Luck, who suffered the shoulder injury in last week’s 35-33 win at Tennessee, hasn’t missed a start since he joined the league in 2012.

GIANTS: Despite another setback with his injury calf, wide receiver Victor Cruz believes he will play this season.

Speaking Friday for the first time since experiencing another problem with his left calf, Cruz confirmed that he received a shot of platelet-rich plasma on Thursday in an effort to hasten his recovery.

Coach Tom Coughlin and Cruz said there is no timetable for the 28-year-old’s return.

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Cruz had hoped to play on Sunday against Buffalo, but the calf didn’t feel right on Wednesday when he tried to run full speed. He shut it down after talking with trainers.

Cruz hasn’t played in a game since sustaining a season-ending knee injury last Oct. 12 against the Eagles.

BILLS: Running back LeSean McCoy is out indefinitely after revealing he had a setback with his left hamstring injury last week.

McCoy said he was making progress in his recovery before Buffalo’s Week 3 game against Miami, but hurt it again on Sept. 24. McCoy attempted to play through the injury in Buffalo’s 41-14 win over the Dolphins but ran for just 16 yards on 11 carries.

LONDON EXPANSION: Britain’s treasury chief pushed his case Friday for placing a permanent NFL franchise in London, saying he hoped the league would move a team to the capital within the next five years.

“The real prize, the touchdown for London, would be to get a team based here,” Chancellor George Osborne said after a meeting with league executives, team owners and former star players. “I want London to be the global sporting capital.”

The meeting came on the same day that the Dolphins and Jets arrived in London ahead of their AFC East divisional game at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. It’s the first of three NFL games in London this season.

“I am supporting the NFL to bring one of their 32 teams to London permanently and will work with them to make this happen,” Osborne said. “Hopefully it is something we could achieve in the next few years, maybe four or five years’ time.”


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