Saints OT Charles Brown (No. 71) will be called on again this year to step in while starter Zach Strief recovers from an injury. (US Presswire)

The Saints went 4-1 last year in Charles Brown’s five starts in place of injured right tackle Zach Strief. With Strief down again, Brown is looking forward to stepping into the same role this Sunday against Atlanta.

Strief didn't practice Wednesday, and all indications are that he will not be available on Sunday against Atlanta after injuring a groin against Philadelphia on Monday night.

“I’m right where I want to be,” Brown said. “My coaches are happy with what I do and they are telling me I’m in a good spot.”

Brown’s last full game a year ago came against Indianapolis, when New Orleans rushed for 236 yards and had 557 yards overall in a 62-7 rout. He suffered a season-ending hip pointer the following week against St. Louis, a game the Saints lost 31-21.

“I just learned each week was different,” he said. “I was coming off my best game when I got hurt.”

Brown, a second-round pick in 2010, has played as an extra tight end in short-yardage situations for the Saints this season, so he did not go in cold against Philadelphia. He said just having blocked players live in earlier games helped him fill in well for Strief.

“I have a lot of confidence in Charlie Brown,” Saints QB Drew Brees said. “He’s done this before. He’s played enough times before. Now he’s a full-time tackle, at least in the short term. I’m excited for this opportunity for him. He’s gotten better each year.”

No mistakes: Atlanta has committed fewer penalties than any team in the NFL and the second fewest turnovers.

New Orleans, in the middle of the pack in both categories, will need a clean game to give itself a good chance of knocking off the Falcons.

“It’s very impressive when you look at them statistically at all the measures that you would say are winning football and championship football,” Brees said. “Those two stats tell you a lot about a team’s discipline. They are well-coached. They understand winning football. That’s why they are 8-0.”

Praising Gonzalez: Tight end Tony Gonzalez, in his 16th year, leads the Falcons with 50 catches.

His average per catch (9.9) is lower than in his heyday, but he is still on pace for 100 receptions and eight touchdowns, which would be his most catches since 2004 and his second highest TD total in that span.

“He’s the best, period,” Saints safety Roman Harper said. “There’s nothing else to say about it. He’s been playing for a very long time. I’ve told everybody for years I would have hated to see him in years 3, 4 and 5. I’ve only caught him on the back end of his career, and he’s still a tough matchup. … He’s still playing at a Pro Bowl level.”

Injury update: The Saints practiced without three players on Wednesday: RB Darren Sproles, who missed the Philadelphia game with a broken left hand, WR Courtney Roby, who sat out with a shoulder injury, Strief and DE junior Galette, who hurt an ankle in the first quarter against the Eagles.

Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.