The Saints will be without one of their special teams aces for the rest of the season. Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate tweets that the team has placed Michael Mauti on the reserve/non-football injury list. Safety Chris Banjo will be taking Mauti’s spot on the roster, reports Joel Erickson of The Advocate (via Twitter).
Following James Laurinaitis‘ season-ending injury in early November, the team has lost another captain in Mauti. It’s uncertain what ailment landed the 26-year-old on this season-ending list, as the defender showed up on the team’s injury report with an undisclosed illness. The former seventh-round pick has nine tackles and one forced fumble on the season, with the four-year veteran contributing both on special teams and at strong-side linebacker. Defensively, the Saints will likely rely on Sam Barrington, Stephone Anthony, and Nathan Stupar to fill in at linebacker.
Banjo was released by the Packers with an injury settlement in late October after having suffered a hamstring injury. In three-plus seasons in Green Bay, the 26-year-old appeared in 37 games, compiling 38 tackles and three passes defended.
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