METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints cornerback Ken Crawley suffered a dislocated kneecap in practice Wednesday, a source confirmed.
The undrafted rookie from Colorado, who started five games this year, is expected to need six to eight weeks of recovery. The news was first reported by the New Orleans Advocate.
Saints coach Sean Payton declined to discuss Crawley's injury Thursday, but he complimented the way Crawley stepped up for the Saints this year when needed because of their rash of injuries at the position. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder was serving as the team's No. 3 cornerback at the time of the injury.
"Listen, he came in here, we've had a handful of these young guys come in and play well," Payton said. "And you count on a player like him to come in maybe and possibly compete, make the roster. And then very quickly, early on, he was into the lineup. So he's smart, another one of those young guys that we're counting on."
Saints cornerbacks Delvin Breaux, P.J. Williams, Kyle Wilson, Damian Swann and Crawley have all landed on injured reserve now. And veteran corner Keenan Lewis was released during training camp while battling injuries from which he never fully recovered.
Crawley was the only Saints player to miss practice Thursday. LB Dannell Ellerbe (foot), LB Craig Robertson (shoulder), C Max Unger (foot) and FB John Kuhn (hip) were limited.
