New Orleans Saints G Andrus Peat expects to return for training camp

New Orleans Saints offensive guard Andrus Peat is expected to be healthy when the team returns for training camp, multiple media outlets reported.

Peat injured his left fibula during the second quarter of the Saints' wild-card victory against the Carolina Panthers in January. The 6-foot-7, 312-pounder was unable to walk for eight weeks after undergoing surgery.

"It's getting better," the 24-year-old Peat said, per the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "I'm taking [my recovery] day by day, and my goal is to be back for training camp, so that's kind of what [the Saints] set for me and I feel like I'm on schedule."

New Orleans showed its faith in Peat by exercising the fifth-year option on his contract in April.

"He's starting to mature and grow a lot," Saints offensive line coach Dan Roushar said, per The Advocate. "He's starting to gain some confidence, and I think he's getting passionate about the game."

A first-round draft pick (No. 13 overall) of the Saints in 2015, Peat has started 37 of 42 games in his three seasons in New Orleans -- including 14 in 2017.

The Saints featured the league's fifth-ranked rushing attack last season behind the tandem of Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara, averaging 129.4 rushing yards per game.