New Orleans Saints Jonathan Vilma out for preseason after knee surgery
By Bryan Rose
New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma will be undergoing a knee scope and will be out for the remainder of the preseason, this according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
"Saints LB Jonathan Vilma undergoing knee surgery today in Philadelphia; out for preseason, should be back for opener."
As Schefter points out, there is hope (or maybe an assumption) that Vilma will return by Week 1, though, that’s certainly not written in stone right now. Any small setback could push Vilma’s return out, so right now that holds as the tentative return date.
Vilma’s injury is just one of many the Saints’ defense has dealt with this preseason as top pass rusher Victor Butler tore his ACL while run stopper Kenyon Coleman has a torn pectoral muscle. Both players have been deemed out for the year.
If Vilma does miss any time in the regular season, David Hawthorne is expected to fill in.
The Saints defense struggled last season and without much roster turnover and missing some of their premier defensive talent thanks to injury, it’s going to be another challenging season in the Bayou.