METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints plan to cut veteran linebacker Dannell Ellerbe once he heals from a minor foot injury, a source confirmed.
Ellerbe, 31, will be placed on injured reserve to start training camp. But the source said he is expected to be healthy within about three weeks.
The news of the Saints' plans was first reported by NFL Network.
Ellerbe's loss is a disappointment, because he had been a dynamic playmaker at times when healthy over the past two years. But it won't be a devastating blow for the Saints, since they loaded up on linebacker depth this offseason -- and since they've gotten used to playing without him over the past two years because of a series of nagging injuries.