The New Orleans Saints might be without Junior Galette for a long time after the 6-foot-2, 285-pound linebacker suffered a pectoral injury and is thinking to undergo surgery.
The 27-year-old is going through a number of tests and the Saints fear that the injury is significant, NFL.com reported.
NFL Media's Albert Breer stated that Galette sustained the injury while lifting weights.
Galette participated in New Orleans' last organized team activity open to the media on May 28 but was only standing on the sidelines and did not join the team during Thursday's OTA.
Saints head coach Sean Payton did not give information about Galette's status because he declines to comment about players' injuries during this time of the season when injury reports are not required by the NFL, ESPN reported.
According to the NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, doctors are split if a surgery is necessary and the Saints are waiting for one more physician who is currently on vacation to weigh in on the matter.
If Galette goes through surgery he will be out of action for five to six months which will be taking a huge portion of the season.
The linebacker became the Saints' captain September and signed an extension deal worth $41.5 million before the start of last season.
Last season, the Saints struggled with defense as they were ranked 31<sup>st in the NFL and missing Galette will be a major setback for the team next season.
Galette tallied 22 sacks and 85 tackles in the past two seasons for New Orleans including a team-leading 10 sacks in 2014.
Fortunately for the Saints, they inked veteran linebacker Anthony Spencer during free agency and drafted Washington linebacker Hau'oli Kikaha in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Linebackers Parys Haralson and Kasim Edebali who were part of the Saints' rotation last season may also step up in Galette's absence.
