The Saints defense came into the season with several missing parts because of injuries and they lost another one during their victory over the Falcons.
Nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley left the game in the first half with a leg injury and did not return. Bunkley was spotted on crutches wearing a walking boot after the end of the game, making it no great surprise that Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that Bunkley will miss several weeks while he recovers from what’s been diagnosed as an injury to his calf.
Bunkley, who is in his second season with the Saints, joins linebackers Will Smith, Victor Butler and Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Kenyon Coleman on the sideline. Smith, Butler and Coleman are all done for the season, but Rapaport notes that Bunkley’s injury isn’t believed to be serious enough to rule him out for the rest of the year.
John Jenkins replaced Bunkley against the Falcons and will move into the starting lineup until Bunkley is healthy enough to reclaim his spot.