METAIRIE (AP) — Sean Payton would prefer to have a running back other than Reggie Bush or Pierre Thomas handle the pounding of certain short-yardage carries and those late-game runs when the Saints are trying to protect leads and wind down the clock.With two preseason games left, the search for that role appears wide open.Running back P.J. Hill, a promising second-year pro out of Wisconsin, was waived on Monday and is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a partial triceps tear that will sideline him for the season.Hill’s injury comes less than two weeks after a season-ending right knee injury to Lynell Hamilton, who entered training camp as the leading candidate to become the third running back after Mike Bell, who handled that role in 2009, left for Philadelphia in free agency.”There’s a couple players that aren’t here who were here a year ago at this time, Lynell being one of them, who’s now injured, Mike Bell certainly being the other,” Payton said. “These other guys are going to have to really step up and prove themselves for a spot on the roster.”Now that Hill is out, the “other guys” now consist of undrafted rookie Chris Ivory, recently acquired veteran free agent Ladell Betts and DeShawn Wynn.Ivory, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound power runner who last year transferred from Washington State to Division II Tiffin, has impressed Payton so far, rushing 26 times for 96 yards and one touchdown in two exhibition games. However, he has made some rookie mistakes and last Saturday against Houston, he was unable to score on first-and-goal from the one-yard line.”He ran hard and had good effort. He’s got good balance,” Payton said. “He finishes runs well, which has been pretty exciting to see, and yet there’s a ton of things that he’s working on like any rookie would be.”
 
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