Julian Blackmon's injury leaves Saints scrambling at safety - ESPN

NEW ORLEANS — The Saints will have to replace a starting safety for the second time in seven weeks.

Safety Julian Blackmon, who was signed in July to replace the retired Tyrann Mathieu, is likely done for the season with a shoulder injury, according to Saints coach Kellen Moore. Moore did not confirm on Monday whether the injury was the same one Blackmon had last season with the Indianapolis Colts (torn right labrum) but said it looks like a seasonlong issue.

Blackmon's injury means the Saints will be scrambling to find another replacement — either turning to one of the team's young players on the roster or looking outside. That could mean an opportunity for third-year player Jordan Howden, who is currently limited with an oblique injury, or rookie third-round pick Jonas Sanker. The Saints also have defensive back Ugo Amadi on the roster and Terrell Burgess on the practice squad.

Moore seemed to indicate a replacement for Blackmon would likely come from a rostered player, and by Wednesday, the Saints will already be looking toward their Week 2 game against the San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox).

«We've invested in a lot of those guys, [they] had a ton of reps, and so we feel like we're not bringing someone in that isn't familiar with this thing. We got a number of guys who can go play that,» Moore said. «That's a conversation that we'll have to have tomorrow just to narrow our focus and put someone in a position or a combination of a couple guys put them in a position to get ready for Sunday.»

Moore also said it was more important to find a permanent replacement than add a fill-in based specifically on the Saints' opponent.

«Certainly there's times where it becomes relevant [to prep] for the opponent, but