Saints ended the season of veteran TE Campbell by putting him on IR

The 11-year veteran tight end Dan Campbell will not be available this season because he was put on injured reserve by the New Orleans Saints Monday. Not a surprise really since he played in only three games in the past two seasons because of various injuries. He also missed past week of practice because of a nagging right knee injury.

Saints coach Sean Payton said that the knee injury still bothered Campbell after he had arthroscopic surgery about six weeks before the training camp.


"He was just battling through that knee and we weren't really seeing the progress," Payton said. "I think he was a little frustrated, as well, but he's been a pretty special player in my mind and a guy that really brought some toughness."

Campbell is an unlucky player. This season has been the third straight season Campbell has been placed on injured reserve and the fourth time since 2004. When he was playing for the Lions in 2008, he sustained a hamstring injury when he made a catch in the regular-season opener and ended the season. The same thing happened in 2007, when he injured his elbow after playing two games, and 2004, when he had a surgery on right foot after playing three games.