Darren Sharper remains in the New Orleans Saints' plans this season. It just will be awhile before the veteran safety is back on the field.
Sharper will be placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, league sources told NewOrleans.com on Friday.
The move means Sharper, 34, will miss at least the first six weeks of the season while he continues to recover from offseason microfracture knee surgery. But Sharper and his agent, Joel Segal, told the Web site that they didn't know about the team's decision.
Linebacker Clint Ingram also will be placed on the PUP list, according to the report.
There had been speculation that Sharper's inability to return to action could lead to his release. But the Saints have opted for a more patient approach, though coach Sean Payton did express concern last week with a PUP list decision.
"A drawback might be you might think in three weeks or two weeks they're ready to play," Payton said.
The Saints also released defensive end Bobby McCray, a league source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora.
The Saints, like all NFL teams, must cut their roster down to 53 by Saturday's league-mandated deadline.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
