METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints starting cornerback Tracy Porter has a sprained left knee, will not require surgery and is expected to return to the field this season.
Tests on Monday including an MRI revealed that Porter has a sprained medial collateral ligament, Saints coach Sean Payton said.
Payton expressed relief that the injury would not end Porter's season as initially feared a day earlier when he was carted to the locker room during the Saints' victory at St. Louis.
"He does not need surgery," Payton said. "I don't have a timeframe on it, but it's an MCL and that's great news."
The injury occurred in a collision with Saints safety Usama Young as the two defenders tried to make a tackle.
A second-round draft choice out of Indiana in 2008, Porter won a starting spot as a rookie only to dislocate his right wrist five games into last season, forcing him to spend the rest of the season on injured reserve.
Through nine games this season, Porter ranks fourth on the team with 44 tackles and second with three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in Miami. He also has been credited with a pair of forced fumbles and eight passes defended.
"He was down yesterday because he had gone through an injury that took him out of the season last year and he's been playing so well," Payton said. "I'm excited for Tracy. Obviously we were all concerned when you deal with a knee and you have to take a player off the field like that."
While Payton declined to estimate how long Porter will be sidelined, he said there was "no question" that he expected him to play again this season.
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