METAIRIE -- New Orleans Saints starting center Jeff Faine and starting defensive tackle Brian Young both missed practice on Wednesday, but cornerback Jason David participated fully for the first time since fracturing his left forearm on Sept. 24.

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Brian Young.

Young, who had fluid drained from his left knee earlier this week, said he hoped to practice on Thursday and expected to play at San Francisco on Sunday.

"I'm good. It was just real stiff this morning," Young said. "I'll be out there playing."

Young has two sacks, tied for the team lead with safety Roman Harper.

It was not clear whether Faine would play against the 49ers. Faine left early in the third quarter of the Saints' victory over Atlanta last weekend with pain in his left pectoral muscle. He said Wednesday that he had not seen the results of an MRI yet and was not sure if it was torn.

Head coach Sean Payton said he also was unsure when Faine would be back.

"That's going to be a tougher one. We're going to have to see where he's progressing. So right now all we're listing him as is 'did not practice,"' Payton said.

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Jeff Faine.

Faine was acquired in a draft-day trade with Cleveland in 2006 and has been the Saints' starting center ever since. When he left last Sunday's game, Jonathan Goodwin took over at center and the Saints were able to move the ball effectively, scoring two touchdowns in a 22-16 win.

Quarterback Drew Brees said he was comfortable taking snaps from Goodwin, who worked out with the first team for most of training camp while Faine was out with a strained calf muscle.

"I feel very confident in Goody and I know the rest of the guys do," Brees said. "You always expect that at times you're going to have guys go down and the next guy is expected to step in and do the job and I'm very confident that Goody will be able to do that."

David, meanwhile, returns to a defensive backfield that is allowing 244 passing yards per game. The Saints are 27th in the league in that category.

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Jason David.

David practiced Wednesday with padding on his forearm and said he expects to wear a soft cast during the next few games.

"He's full go this week," Payton said.

Signed away from Indianapolis as a restricted free agent, David began the season as a starter in New Orleans with mixed results. He gave up several long touchdown passes during the first two games but also forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown against the Colts, then intercepted a pass against the Titans before getting hurt in that game.

Jason Craft has been starting in David's absence and David said he was not sure to what extent he would play in San Francisco.

"My arm is doing good. I feel good. I've got my wind," David said. "I'll see what I can do Sunday. I hate watching, so I'm excited."

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)