Joe Vitt: RB Chris Ivory staying with Saints

A day after running back Chris Ivory said he was frustrated with not seeing any playing time in the first six games of the season and noted that the trade deadline is approaching, New Orleans Saints interim coach Joe Vitt said Thursday the third-year pro isn’t going anywhere.

Vitt said Ivory, who has been inactive for five games and didn’t play in the only game he dressed out for, will get his shot even though he’s fifth on the depth chart behind Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Mark Ingram and rookie Travaris Cadet.

While Ivory said he was frustrated in not being given a chance to help jump-start the NFL’s 32nd-ranked rushing offense, which averages just 76.2 yards per game, Ivory stopped short of saying he would request a trade in a talk Wednesday with WWL Radio sideline reporter Kristian Garic.

“We’re excited about Chris Ivory,” Vitt said Thursday during at his daily news conference. “We have a great stable of backs right here. Chris is going to get his chance. Chris is not going anywhere.”

Graham works again

Vitt said Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, who missed last week’s game with a sprained right ankle after being hurt in an Oct. 7 game against San Diego, was limited in practice for the second straight day.

Vitt noted that Graham participated in some land-based drills, but it’s still not known if he’ll be able to play Sunday night against the Denver Broncos.

Practice report

In addition to Graham, LB David Hawthorne (hamstring) and WR Joe Morgan (chest) were limited, while TE Daniel Graham (knee) and RB Darren Sproles (excused/family matter) did not practice.

Vitt said Morgan and Daniel Graham won’t play Sunday, but said Hawthorne, who has missed the last three games, did not have any ill effects from his return to practice Wednesday.

For the Broncos, former Saints cornerback Tracy Porter (illness) was the only player who did not participate in Thursday’s practice.

Vitt vs. Vitt

Vitt was asked who his daughter, Jennifer, will be rooting for Sunday considering she’s the wife of Broncos quarterbacks coach Adam Gase.

“I’ve told my daughter on a lot of occasions there’s not a male on this earth that has loved her as long as I have,” a grinning Vitt said. “My son-in-law is a great father. He’s a great husband. He’s become a real good friend to me.

“He and I aren’t playing. This is a players’ game. I think deep down Jennifer is rooting for me. That’ll get me in trouble.”

Adam and Jennifer Gase, who were married in 2008, have two children. Adam Gase was a graduate assistant coach at LSU from 2000-02 under former Tigers coach Nick Saban.

The air up there

The Saints will depart for Denver following Friday’s practice, leaving a day earlier than usual for a road game to get acclimated to the thin air of the Mile High City.

Vitt will also take the Saints to Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday for a brief walkthrough in the stadium, another change from their normal routine.

Stats change

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan was credited with his third sack of the season after a review of Sunday’s game with the Tampa Bay Bucs by the Elias Sports Bureau.

On the Saints’ critical goal-line stand in the third quarter, Jordan didn’t buy a play-action fake by Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman and stayed at home before chasing him out of bounds.

Statisticians originally credited Freeman with a run and 4-yard loss.