METAIRIE, La. — Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress undoubtedly now classifies the New Orleans Saints' Reggie Bush in the same category as the Chicago Bears' Devin Hester. After Bush's two punt returns for touchdowns a few days ago, it's tough to argue against the sentiment.

New Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable may not have coached his first game in the NFL yet, but he recognizes a weapon when he sees one.

So when Cable makes his Raiders head coaching debut against the Saints on Sunday, Cable will view Bush as if he were Hester when it's time to punt the football.

"I think if you don't (treat Bush like Hester), you're kidding yourself," Cable said. "He's a special, special player. He changed the game the other night a couple times and really he's fun to watch, but not really fun to get ready for. You have to do what you have to do."

Bush's dazzling two-touchdown performance in the 30-27 loss to the Vikings on Monday night made Bush a shoo-in to earn the league's special teams player of the week. It also may have put an end to Bush and Lance Moore sharing the punt-return duties.

"There's a little bit less juggling," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "He did a great job the other night. He's playing well. He has really made a difference. It's rare that you'll return two punts for touchdowns and lose a game, and that's the thing that's disappointing. But he's playing well and he'll continue to get those opportunities."

"Those are touches for him to have and the guys did a good job blocking for him. One of the goals that we set out at the start of the season was to improve our return game — both punt and kick return — and I think you have to credit Greg McMahon and Mike Mallory. They have done a great job. That aspect has changed dramatically. Just taking Monday night's kickoff and punt returns alone, that was a real positive."

Colston still limited, Shockey no-go Thursday — Wide receiver Marques Colston went through Thursday's practice on a limited basis as he attempts to return from a torn thumb ligament for Sunday's game against Oakland.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey (hernia) may not be as close as Colston by missing Thursday's practice after being limited on Wednesday.

"We saw Marques practice today so in his case, again I was encouraged," Payton said. "With Jeremy, I'll just have to see where he's at (today) and see how on the second day after his first day of practice yesterday, see how he feels. With Marques, he was out there again and we were able to see him move around and functioning and he did pretty well."

Payton said he didn't see anything hindering Colston's ability to catch passes, but the Saints coach wasn't ready to deem Colston ready to go for Sunday quite yet.

"There's a splint that he'll wear that prohibits any negative movement," Payton said. "The cast is off and it's just getting comfortable with the speed of the game and the flexibility with his thumb and his hand."

Others who didn't practice Thursday were cornerback Aaron Glenn (ankle), defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (knee), defensive tackle Antwan Lake (groin), safety Kevin Kaesviharn (back) and wide receiver David Patten (groin).

Cornerback Mike McKenzie (knee), tackle Jon Stinchcomb (back) and center Jonathan Goodwin (hamstring) were limited Thursday. Safety Chris Reis (hamstring) went through all of practice.

Payton said the goal for a possible return for Colston, Shockey and Glenn are for the Saints' Week 7 matchup in Carolina. It may appear like the Saints are trying to load up for the Panthers, but Payton said the recovery times are just falling that way.

"It's just really the timeframe," Payton said. "Each game is as important as the next. The quicker we can get guys back, the better. It just so happens that a few of them seem to be or could happen to be back that week."