The Saints are set to sign linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, according to a league source who spoke with Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune. Dunbar played for New Orleans from 2008 to 2011.
Dunbar, 30, was released by the Rams on Tuesday. He originally signed with the Saints as a UDFA in 2008 and he went on to play in 53 games for them with 27 starts. This time around, Dunbar is expected to provide the Saints with some much needed depth at linebacker. New Orleans linebackers David Hawthorne and Dannell Ellerbe have both missed practice this week with injuries and their status for Sunday’s game against the Giants is in doubt. Dunbar has played both inside and outside linebacker over the course of his career, but his role right now with the Saints might involve more special teams work.
Dunbar signed a two-year, $3.5MM deal with the Rams prior to the 2014 season that saw him reprise a similar role from 2013. Coming off the field on most passing downs while James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree played three-down roles, Dunbar was the Rams’ worst-rated starting linebacker, per Pro Football Focus, in both 2013 and 2014 for St. Louis. In 2012, however, PFF tabbed Dunbar as the Rams’ best linebacker. Dunbar played both strong- and weak-side positions with the Rams.