McAllister has surgery to repair torn knee ligaments

Published: Sep 28, 2007 at 01:01 AM

NEW ORLEANS -- Saints running back Deuce McAllister had surgery Thursday to repair ligaments he tore in his left knee during Monday night's 31-14 loss to Tennessee.

Dr. James Andrews, in Birmingham, Ala., repaired McAllister's anterior cruciate ligament and then cleaned up his right knee, which had been surgically repaired following a similar tear in October 2005, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said.

"We are very pleased to hear that Deuce's surgery went well," Loomis said. "We're confident that his rehabilitation will go well and everyone in the Saints organization is looking forward to having Deuce back on the field in a Saints uniform in 2008."

McAllister, in a statement released by the team, thanked everyone for their prayers and well wishes. "I'm eager to begin the rehab process and to get back with my teammates as soon as possible," he said.

McAllister had the second season-ending knee injury in three seasons during the second quarter of the team's home opener. He landed awkwardly after catching a short pass from Drew Brees. And, though he walked off the field, the Saints' career leading rusher said he was worried.

"Once I got to the sideline, I knew it," McAllister said this week. "I didn't want to believe it, but just taking the walk to the locker room I could feel it just kind of giving way a little bit and that was just kind of reminiscent of how the other one felt."

Five games into the 2005 season, McAllister tore his right ACL during a run in Green Bay. After reconstructive surgery, he returned to rush for 1,057 yards in 2006, helping the Saints to the NFC South title and a playoff victory over Philadelphia.

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.