METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Veteran linebackers Derrick Brooks and Derek Smith completed workouts with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday afternoon, leaving coaches impressed but uncommitted to signing either one of them.

‘‘Those guys are both in great shape,’’ head coach Sean Payton said. ‘‘We’re not going to do anything right yet.’’

The club brought the two linebackers in for a look after learning that Mark Simoneau had a torn triceps in his right arm, which will require surgery.

The Saints open their preseason slate against Cincinnati on Friday night in the Louisiana Superdome, and Payton said the club would wait until after that game before deciding whether to sign another player.

When Payton disclosed Simoneau’s injury on Tuesday, he initially thought Simoneau’s surgery would be on Wednesday, but said after Wednesday afternoon’s practice that the operation would not take place until Thursday.

The Saints would have several options with Simoneau. They could place him on injured reserve, ending his season, or possibly release him and hope to re-sign him when he heals later in the season. Or if the recovery is expected to be relatively quick, they could keep him on the roster.

‘‘It’s a question we haven’t really answered yet,’’ Payton said. ‘‘A lot of it is going to be based on how the surgery went and the doctor’s prognosis.’’

Brooks, 36, is a 14-year veteran who’s been named to 11 Pro Bowls. He has played his entire career for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who released him last winter.

Saints starting middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma called Brooks ‘‘one of my idols growing up.’’

‘‘What more can you ask than to have a guy like that come in — instant leadership, instant veteran play. I couldn’t be happier if they did bring him in.’’

Smith, 34, has played for 12 years. He was a regular starter early in his career with Washington and San Francisco, but played in only a handful of games last season with San Diego and Miami.

Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said a fellow NFL coach he trusts, who he declined to name, had spoken highly of Smith.

‘‘It’s really an even race,’’ Williams said.