New Orleans' cornerback Mike McKenzie suffered a fractured right kneecap on Sunday against the Falcons.
McKenzie was carted off the field after defending a third-down pass to Michael Jenkins.
He will miss the rest of the season because of a rehabilitation period that could take anywhere from three to six months.
"It's real disappointing," said Saints' Coach Sean Payton. "His [last] rehab process was very long and tedious. I'm disappointed for him, and I'm sure the rest of his teammates feel the same way. ... Certainly, it's a blow to our defense. We've just got to get him healthy and get him fixed."
Saints Lose McKenzie To Broken Kneecap