The New Orleans Saints added a couple veteran defensive ends this week, which seemed like a contingency plan if rookie Trey Hendrickson's knee injury forced him to miss Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.
When the Saints cut Darryl Tapp and Kendall Langford on Saturday, it seemed like a good sign that Hendrickson would be available, which the team announced Sunday morning would be the case.
Hendrickson figures to play a significant role Sunday as his availability gives coaches the option rotate their defensive linemen more. In the first two games, starters Cameron Jordan and Alex Okafor played with either no rest or little rest, but Hendrickson and Hau'oli Kikaha could play more snaps against the Panthers.