Saints Lose Broderick Bunkley For Several Weeks Due To Calf Injury

Will Smith #91, Jonathan Vilma #51, Brodrick Bunkley #77, and Curtis Lofton #50 of the New Orleans Saints stand on the sidelines during their game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum on November 18, 2012 in Oakland, California.

The New Orleans Saints will be without starting nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley for several weeks, due to a calf injury, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

The 29-year old Bunkley suffered the calf injury during the first half of the Saints' 23-17 opening week victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

The 6-foot-2, 306-pound, Bunkley is in his second season with New Orleans, after playing the first five seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, and 2011 with the Denver Broncos.

Last season, with the Saints, Bunkley accumulated 23 tackles in 15 games, along with 2.5 sacks.

With the injury to Bunkley, rookie John Jenkins should see more time at the nose tackle spot.

The Saints also lost defensive linemen Tyrunn Walker and cornerback Patrick Robinson in the Atlanta game, but the extent of their injuries is not know at this time.

New Orleans entered the game without the services of defensive end Kenyon Coleman, and linebackers Victor Butler, Will Smith, and Jonathan Vilma due to injuries.  Coleman and Smith will miss the entire season, while Butler and Vilma will both miss at least eight weeks.