NEW ORLEANS (AP) -New Orleans first-round draft pick Robert Meachem was scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Tuesday, according to the NFL Web site.
Meachem injured his knee at Sunday’s minicamp practice and sat out Monday’s workout.
“He was held out because he had a slight flare-up of the meniscus in his knee,” team spokesman Doug Miller said Tuesday.
Miller could not confirm the surgery, as reported by NFL.com, but said coach Sean Payton would comment on the injury Wednesday. Meachem’s agent, Jeff Griffin, did not return a telephone call.
According to NFL.com, Meachem was expected to miss four weeks, but should be ready for the start of training camp in late July.
Meachem had problems with the knee at Tennessee. In 2003, Meachem had arthroscopic surgery to repair his meniscus, then took a medical redshirt year.
Payton said after Monday’s practice that the Saints knew about a possible minor knee problem before they drafted Meachem with the 27th overall pick.
It’s not the first injury for Meachem since the Saints drafted him. Meachem showed up at the Saints’ first mandatory minicamp overweight and out of shape. He sprained his left ankle on the first day of workouts.
The Saints hope Meachem can replace Joe Horn as the receiver opposite Marques Colston.
Horn, a four-time Pro Bowler, was released this spring. Horn caught 523 passes for 7,622 yards and scored a team-record 50 touchdowns after joining New Orleans as a free agent in 2000. He ranks second in club history in catches and yardage, and is the team’s career leader in 100-yard receiving games with 27.
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