METAIRIE, La. -- Khiry Robinson suffered a fractured tibia and had surgery Sunday night, according to New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, who said he expects the running back to be placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Payton said it's possible the team will conduct tryouts to replace Robinson. But he stressed that rookie running back/return man Marcus Murphy is also capable of stepping up into the Saints' No. 3 job behind veterans Mark Ingram and C.J. Spiller -- both of whom could also take on slightly bigger roles.
"Marcus Murphy is someone that we haven't played there only because of our depth. But he's someone who's not just a returner; we view him as a runner," Payton said of the seventh-round draft pick from Missouri, who had 924 rushing yards as a senior and 61 rushing yards and a touchdown during the preseason.
Meanwhile, Payton confirmed on his weekly WWL Radio coaches show that the Saints re-signed veteran back Tim Hightower, while league sources told ESPN the club also worked out Trent Richardson and Travaris Cadet.
Hightower, 29, might finally be able to make a long-awaited comeback from a torn ACL that has kept him out of the NFL since 2011. He spent the entire offseason with New Orleans and was temporarily on the 53-man roster in Weeks 1 and 2, but he never played in a game because of the Saints' running back depth.
Robinson had emerged as a standout backup for the Saints during his three-year career since going undrafted out of West Texas A&M.
The physical 6-foot, 220-pounder first earned a job during a three-day rookie minicamp tryout in 2013. He has 180 rushing yards, 115 receiving yards and a career-high four TDs this season.
Robinson suffered the injury during a 2-yard run in the second quarter of Sunday's 52-49 victory over the New York Giants.
Several teammates huddled around him to show support as he was fitted for an air cast before being carted off the field.
"When there's an injury that takes place and they're able to see the type of injury ... the first thought is just the amount of work that a guy like Khiry's put in, and all of a sudden knowing that his season's come to an end," Payton said.
Robinson is scheduled to be a restricted free agent after this season.
