DE Jason Babin, a former first-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2004, signed a one-year deal. He started 22 of his 47 games in the Texans (2004-06) and Seattle (2007-08). He played in only two games with the Seahawks this year.

Kansas City cleared a roster spot by placing rookie DE Brian Johnston on injured reserve with a calf injury.

In other moves, the Chiefs released RB Jackie Battle to clear a roster spot for Larry Johnson's return from a one-week stay on the suspended list. Battle was then re-signed to the practice squad. Kansas City also re-signed QB Ingle Martin to the practice squad.

PLAYER NOTES

-- DE Turk McBride pronounced himself ready to go against the Saints. His presence will be significant in light of a season-ending calf injury to reserve Brian Johnston and a foot injury that likely will keep fellow end Tamba Hali out of the Saints game.

"I won't say I'm 100 percent, but I'm definitely improving," McBride said. "My only surprise was that I wasn't out there last week. My mindset right now is that I'm playing unless the coaches tell me otherwise."

-- RB Larry Johnson will play this week against the Saints for the first time since missing four games as a disciplinary measure for off-field incidents involving confrontations with women at clubs. But Chiefs coach Herm Edwards still isn't saying whether Johnson will start or how many snaps he will get, saying only that he will play in a rotation with rookie Jamaal Charles, who is bothered by an ankle injury, and rookie reserve Dantrell Savage.

-- DE Tamba Hali missed a second day of workouts Thursday with a foot injury and is not likely to play against New Orleans.

-- DT Alfonso Boone is likely to make a second consecutive start at defensive end against the Saints when he moves from tackle to replace the injured Tamba Hali at LDE. Boone played the RDE spot last week against San Diego when Turk McBride was down.

-- CB Brandon Flowers did only a limited workout Thursday and remains very questionable for the Saints after missing the San Diego game with a hamstring injury.

-- CB Pat Surtain did only a limited workout Thursday and remains very questionable for the Saints after missing two previous games with a quad injury.

-- FS Jarrad Page did only a limited workout Thursday with a groin injury, but he is following the same workout pattern he observed a week ago when he was able to play against San Diego.

-- RB Jamaal Charles did only a limited workout Thursday with an ankle injury, but he thinks he'll be able to play as part of a rotation with Larry Johnson against the Saints.

--LB Derrick Johnson will miss a second consecutive start against New Orleans with a hamstring injury.

--LB Pat Thomas, the Chiefs' leading tackler, will miss the Saints game with a hamstring injury incurred in the San Diego loss.

--G Adrian Jones will miss the New Orleans game with an ankle injury after making the first eight starts of the year.

--LB Weston Dacus, an undrafted rookie who spent the first month on the Chiefs practice squad, likely will get his first NFL start this week against New Orleans as a replacement for the injured Pat Thomas at middle linebacker.

--LB Rocky Boiman is a likely starter for a second consecutive game at weakside linebacker as a replacement for the injured Derrick Johnson against New Orleans.

GAME PLAN: With an injury-ridden defense, Kansas City must hope its offense can control the ball, score some points and stay close to the point-productive Saints offense. The Chiefs had scoring drives of 12 and 14 plays last week in San Diego, so they are capable of running clock and limiting the Saints' time on offense. New Orleans' pass defense is leaky, so QB Tyler Thigpen will have opportunities as long as he avoids turnovers, which he's avoided in his last three starts.

Defensively, the Chiefs won't find Drew Brees with the ball in his hand, as the Saints have averaged only one sack a game. They likely have to play a lot of nickel defense, which isn't good given the injury status of CBs Brandon Flowers and Pat Surtain. The Saints will have chances to run against a defense more concerned about trying to find bodies to stop the Saints' more feared passing attack.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Saints WR Marques Colston vs. Chiefs CBs. Whether he draws coverage from rookie CBs Brandon Carr or Maurice Leggett, or recently added street free agents David Macklin or Ricardo Colclough, Colston will have chances to make big plays if he's healthy enough to do so.

INJURY REPORT: Starting LBs Derrick Johnson and Pat Thomas (hamstrings, both) won't play. Starting RG Adrian Jones (ankle) won't play. Starting CB Brandon Flowers (hamstring) looks doubtful. DE Tamba Hali (foot) looks doubtful. DE Turk McBride (shoulder) remains questionable despite getting a full practice Wednesday. CB Pat Surtain (quad) remains questionable, but was able to do limited work Wednesday after missing the last two games. FS Jarrad Page (groin) was limited in Thursday's practice, but played on the same injury last week against San Diego.