Saints LBs Lofton, Hawthorne both injured

METAIRIE, La. — Linebackers Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne represented two of the Saints' most important acquisitions in free agency and quickly took over starting roles in their first preseason with New Orleans.

Now both are injured — Lofton with a high ankle sprain and Hawthorne with torn cartilage in his knee — and it is unclear if either will be ready to return when New Orleans opens the regular season Sept. 9 against Washington.

"We certainly think Curtis is going to be ready for the first game. The diagnosis on David is encouraging," assistant head coach Joe Vitt said, noting that Hawthorne kept playing in Friday night's preseason game against Jacksonville even after his injury.

"Our pro personnel people do an outstanding job in acquiring talent for us," Vitt added. "We'll see what talent is available to us on other rosters in potential trades or picking someone up when they're waived, but we're happy with what we have now."

Vitt said Hawthorne was having surgery to repair a meniscus tear on Monday. He declined to say which leg either player hurt.

Jonathan Casillas, who started four games last season, is expected to start for Hawthorne in Friday night's preseason game against Houston. Ramon Humber will fill in at middle linebacker, Vitt said.

Humber has been in New Orleans for parts of the past two seasons, and Vitt said the staff has confidence in his ability to relay defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's calls on the field.

However, it is not yet clear what the Saints' plan will be if Lofton is unavailable for the regular season opener because Humber must serve a three-game suspension for a violation of NFL drug policies.

Chris Chamberlain, another linebacker the Saints signed in free agency because of his versatility and familiarity with Spagnuolo's system, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in last Friday night's game against Jacksonville and is out for the season.

That leaves Casillas as a possible option in the middle because he also has learned the position — even though it has not been his focus — during his three seasons in New Orleans.

"If they do call on me to move or alter or expand, whatever it is, I'm always up for the task," Casillas said. "The character in the linebacker room is pretty high and we can take it in stride and go with it."

Humber practiced at middle linebacker last year behind Jonathan Vilma, who is currently suspended for the season in connection with the NFL's bounty investigation. Although Spagnuolo's defense is new this season, Humber said he was comfortable relaying calls from the coordinator and making sure everyone was lined up right.

"It's all about trust. I've been here before. They know what I can do," Humber said. "I got my teammates behind me, out there with me and they're there to help me out and we're there to help each other. If I have any questions, I ask them. They'll help me out."

Humber is heading into his fourth season out of North Dakota State. He began his career with Indianapolis as an undrafted rookie and played against New Orleans in the 2010 Super Bowl. The Saints then signed him as a free agent during the 2010 season, and he appeared in 13 games in 2011, both at linebacker and on special teams.

"This will be a great opportunity for Ramon Humber to step up," Vitt said. "He's been in our program and has played the position. He'll have a great chance to show his skill level and what he can do."