N.O. FB Evans out for year

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Oct 30, 2009

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METAIRIE — The New Orleans Saints lost one of the key parts of the NFL’s top-ranked offense Thursday when fullback Heath Evans was put on injured reserve with a torn ACL in his right knee.

Evans tore the knee ligament in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over the Miami Dolphins when he was tackled near the sideline after catching a short pass from Drew Brees.

A nine-year veteran, Evans underwent surgery Thursday with Dr. James Andrews performing the operation. Evans, who joined the Saints this spring in free agency, had made quite an impact in the locker room and on the field.

“That’s tough,” Brees said of Evans’ loss. “Heath was not only a real productive player, but he’s an awesome guy … an awesome locker room guy.

“He’s great for that running backs room, which is really full of some pretty young players,” he said. “I think Heath was just a real good influence on everybody, just a solid guy. So you miss him for a lot of reasons.”

Evans was an effective blocker for the Saints, who rank third in the NFL with 154.5 rushing yards per game, but he also scored three touchdowns — two receiving and one rushing — in catching 10 passes for 70 yards and gaining 16 yards on five carries.

“He’s a guy that to date has really played well for us — in the running game and passing game,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “So you never like to lose a starter.”

Saints sign Eckel

To fill Evans’ spot on the 53-man roster, the Saints signed former New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles fullback Kyle Eckel.

Eckel, a 5-foot-11, 237-pounder, was brought in for a workout on Tuesday along with Darian Barnes, who played in four games with the Saints last season.

The Saints eventually signed Eckel, who, like Evans, is an athletic fullback. In 17 games with the Patriots and Eagles the last two years, he rushed for 169 yards on 57 carries with two TDs. He was a teammate of Evans with the Patriots in 2007.

“I’m excited,” Eckel said. “I hope I can contribute like Heath did. I know him well.”

Injury report