Saints exploring temporary homes in wake of Hurricane Ida

The New Orleans Saints believe they'll have to find a temporary home for the first month of the NFL season in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday.

The Saints, who evacuated to Dallas before landfall, are looking into the possibility of practicing at either SMU or TCU and playing their home opener at AT&T Stadium.

"We think that'd be something that's very realistic," Payton said, according to USA Today Sports' Jori Epstein.

The Dallas Cowboys occupy AT&T Stadium but begin the season with a two-game road trip. The Saints host the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 before heading out for two road games of their own. The Cowboys and Saints are both supposed to play at home in Week 4, which marks the beginning of October.

Payton noted the Saints can return to New Orleans earlier if the city is equipped to handle them. In 2005, the team played the entire season outside New Orleans in light of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday, flooding homes across the state and destroying the power grid. It could take weeks for officials to restore power in various regions.