The New Orleans Saints are without a key member of the defensive line rotation for the immediate future.
Rookie defensive end Trey Hendrickson is expected to be out for three weeks with an ankle injury, according to a source familiar with the situation.
The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Hendrickson suffered the ankle injury in the second quarter of Thursday night's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
He limped to the sidelines and bench area, where medical personnel called for a cart. Hendrickson rode the cart to the locker room and did not return to the game.
Hendrickson, a third-round pick, has emerged to become a contributor in his rookie season, appearing in 12 games and totaling 13 tackles (seven solo), two sacks, two passes defensed and a forced fumble.