The Saints have made a defensive roster change in advance of Week 13’s contests against the Steelers, officially placing injured defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley on their injured reserve list, according to a team release. To fill Bunkley’s spot on the 53-man roster, defensive tackle Lawrence Virgil has been promoted from the practice squad, as we heard yesterday.
Bunkley, who turned 31 on Sunday, suffered a leg injury during New Orleans’ Monday loss to the Ravens. Although the team didn’t specify the diagnosis, a report earlier in the week indicated that Bunkley had torn his quad and was expected to be out for the rest of the season.
With 276 defensive snaps this year, Bunkley was New Orleans’ second-most-used defensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). I’d expect increased roles for players like John Jenkins and Tyrunn Walker over the last few weeks of the season, with Virgil serving as a depth piece on the defensive line.