The New Orleans Saints just want to go home.

After moving the team to Indianapolis this past weekend to avoid the wrath of Hurricane Gustav, general manager Mickey Loomis said yesterday the Saints plan to return to their home base later this week -- if city officials permit it.

Until then, they will stay in Indianapolis, suddenly the home of two NFL teams.

By Sunday, when they're scheduled to play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the season opener, the Saints hope to be playing in front of a packed house inside the Louisiana Superdome.

Meanwhile, the Louisiana Superdome appeared to be in good condition after the worst of the hurricane had passed, the stadium's operator said.

Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco will start in the season opener Sunday for Baltimore, which awarded the job to its top draft pick because he's the healthiest player at the position. Flacco, the 18th pick overall from Delaware who had a stint at Pitt, will launch his NFL career against the Cincinnati Bengals. There is a chance the two other quarterbacks competing for the job, Troy Smith (infected tonsils) and Kyle Boller (shoulder) will not be available as backups. In an effort to add depth, the Ravens worked out quarterbacks Chris Simms, Joey Harrington and Todd Bouman yesterday.

Oakland agreed to terms on a one-year contract with discarded receiver Ashley Lelie, a former first-round pick. Before adding Lelie, the Raiders were extremely thin at receiver behind starters Javon Walker and Ronald Curry.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returned to practice and expects to start in the regular-season opener Sunday in Buffalo. Hasselbeck participated in just his second full practice since his back was injured a month ago.

NFL players will wear a uniform patch this season to honor NFL Players' Association leader Gene Upshaw, who died Aug. 20. The league announced that the patch will have the initials GU and the number 63, which he wore while playing for the Raiders. He died of pancreatic cancer three days after he was diagnosed.