Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune November 03, 2008 1:38PM

Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune

Charles Grant has been placed on injured reserved and is out for the season.

The Saints placed defensive end Charles Grant on injured reserve with a triceps injury, officially ending his 2008 season.

Grant suffered the injury against San Diego last week but finished the game. He will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by veteran Bobby McCray, but the Saints are very thin at the position behind starters Will Smith and McCray.

The Saints replaced Grant on the roster with defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, but they will probably add a new defensive end by Wednesday.
“Charles has played a key role for our team since we drafted him six years ago,” Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement. “This is obviously a loss for our defense, but injuries are a part of our league and it presents an opportunity for other players to step up and answer the call.”

Grant is tied with McCray for the team lead with three sacks this season, but it’s been a turbulent year for the seventh-year veteran. He was indicted for involuntary manslaughter for his alleged part in a February brawl outside of a Blakely, Ga., nightclub that led to the shooting death of a pregnant woman. That case is still pending.

He is also facing a four-game league suspension as one of four Saints players who tested positive for a banned diuretic this summer. Obviously that suspension won’t come into play until next season now. But since Smith is also facing a four-game suspension, the Saints will be scrambling at the defensive end position for the remainder of the year.

Grant was not immediately available for comment. The Saints practiced on Monday but kept the session closed to the media.

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