| | ESPN.com news services
THIBODAUX, La. -- The New Orleans Saints put tight end Cameron Cleeland on injured reserve Thursday and replaced him on the roster with defensive end Alfred Williams. ESPN.com's John Clayton reports that the Saints have given Williams a one-year, $440,000 contract.
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| Cleeland |
Cleeland, the Saints' starting tight end, had surgery on Tuesday to reattach a torn Achilles
tendon. He will spend the year rehabilitating the injury. He tore
the tendon last Saturday in the Saints' first preseason game.
Coach Jim Haslett said Cleeland's Achilles was "torn in half," and that starting safety Rob Kelly and cornerback Steve Israel suffered broken legs that might also end their seasons in the same game.
Williams, a nine-year veteran, had been with the Denver Broncos
for five years, including both Super Bowls. An All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 1996, Williams has 59.5
career sacks in nine seasons. The former Colorado standout was
taken in the first round of the 1991 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
He played in seven games for the Broncos last year before
rupturing his right Achilles' tendon in Week 8. Williams was cut in
a salary cap move this year. Haslett says Williams is healthy now and can play
either left or right end.
"It's tough to take when you lose three talented players," Haslett said . "It's a shame, but it's part
of the business."
Cleeland, who caught 80 passes in his first two seasons with the
Saints, was hurt in the second quarter on a running play shortly
after he caught two passes, for 20 and 6 yards, against the New
York Jets.
Kelly was injured on the fourth play from scrimmage and Israel
was hurt on a kickoff in the third quarter.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. | |
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