New Orleans Saints running back Khiry Robinson broke a bone in his leg on Sunday and will miss the rest of the season, coach Sean Payton said Monday.
Robinson underwent successful surgery to repair the fractured tibia on Sunday night, Payton said.
Robinson, 25, is in his third season with the Saints. He has 180 yards and four touchdowns on 56 carries in 2015.
Robinson suffered the injury in the second quarter when his right leg seemed to bend or buckle on a run play. Teammates immediately sensed the severity of the injury and huddled around him in prayer and encouragement. Athletic trainers fitted his leg with an air cast and then hoisted him onto a cart with the help of teammates.
Robinson was one of four Saints players to leave the game due to injury.
Robinson will likely be placed on the season-ending injured-reserve list by Tuesday.
Payton said the open roster spot won’t necessarily go to a running back. In addition to veterans Mark Ingram and C.J. Spiller, the Saints also have rookie running back Marcus Murphy on the roster.
While Murphy has worked exclusively as a return man this year, he did have 18 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown in the preseason.
Even if the Saints choose not to sign a back to the active roster, they still might add one to the practice squad to build depth.
Robinson originally signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of West Texas A&M University in 2013. Considered a long shot to make the team, Robinson played an important reserve role as a rookie and even had a team-high 13 carries in the Saints’ playoff loss at Seattle after the 2013 season.
In 28 regular season games with the Saints overall, Robinson has 186 carries for 766 yards and eight touchdows and 25 receptions for 178 yards.
Robinson will be a restricted free agent after this season after playing for the league-minimum in each of his first three seasons.
The Saints chose not to pursue their last running back who became a restricted free agent. Travaris Cadet ultimately signed a free-agent deal with the New England Patriots before being released Sept. 29.