DE Junior Galette is expected to return to the lineup to face the Giants. (US Presswire)

Saints DE Junior Galette will return to the lineup for the first time in five weeks this Sunday against the Giants after spraining his left ankle in the first quarter against the Eagles on Nov. 5. It’s been a long, frustrating wait.

“My own teammate (Martez Wilson) fell on my ankle, so that made it even more frustrating for me,” he said. “I just had to be patient and wait until I got good enough to play again. I had no choice. It was a reality check and made me realize how much I love the game. I couldn’t miss another game. I couldn’t do it.”

Galette, a pass-rushing specialist, had four sacks before he got injured. He figures missing most of the Philadelphia game cost him at least a couple more.

“They have the worst O-line in the league,” he said. “That was one of the games I feel like I could have had one of my best performances, but God had another plan. I’m just happy to be back.”

He got hurt on a play where Wilson sacked Eagles QB Michael Vick.

“I tried to get in on in as well, and that’s what I get for being greedy,” Galette said. “I was trying to get somebody else’s sack, and he falls on my ankle. It’s part of the game. You can’t control anything like that.”

Kickoff, schmickoff: In a cover story that ran this week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told Time Magazine he might push to eliminate kickoffs from the game. Saints interim coach Joe Vitt is not an initial fan of the idea, although he said he could be swayed if data showed more injuries occurred on kickoffs than any other play.

“I don’t know what the basis is for that,” Vitt said. “I really don’t know the amount of injuries that are sustained on kickoffs and kickoff returns. I have a hard time believing it wouldn’t be a part of our industry and our business. I don’t know. But I never thought there’d be a day when he practiced inside all the time on turf. I’m used to playing outside on mud. The game’s changing.”

The NFL moved kickoffs to the 35 from the 30 at the start of 2011 to increase touchback and lower the number of returns in an attempt to reduce injuries.

No changes for Brees: If the point hadn’t been driven home hard enough this week, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael reiterated Friday that coaches were not asking QB Drew Brees to play any differently after he threw a career-high five interceptions against the Falcons.

Brees said it earlier this week. So did Vitt. Add Carmichael to the list.

“We’re not going to change anything he’s doing,” Carmichael said. “You can’t put all those mistakes on him. That goes around with everybody, and start with the head play-caller.”

Asked if the interceptions were coming off of bad throws or bad reads, Carmichael defended Brees again.

“He’s not making poor decisions for us,” he said. “He might go through a game where there are one or two decisions he’d like to have back, but that’s not a trend.”

This and that: Vitt ruled CB Corey White out for the Giants game. White practiced Wednesday but sat out Thursday and Friday as he recovers from a left knee injury that will sideline him for the fifth consecutive game. White and OT Charles Brown (right knee) are the only two Saints players who will not be available against the Giants. … The Saints signed rookie WR Saalim Hakim to their practice squad and released LB Ezra Butler.

Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.