METAIRIE, La. — Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley is coming off one of his best N.F.L. seasons, and it might have been his last.
At the very least, he will not be playing for New Orleans in 2017.
General Manager Mickey Loomis said Monday that Fairley has been placed on the team’s injured reserve list with a nonfootball-illness designation, meaning Fairley is out for this season.
The 6-foot-4, 308-pound Fairley had a career-best six and a half sacks for the Saints as a starter last season, after which he signed a four-year extension worth up to $28 million.