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(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Barrett Ruud

The New Orleans Saints acquired linebacker Barrett Ruud from the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, in exchange for a future undisclosed draft pick.

The Saints are awfully thin at linebacker right now. They lost Chris Chamberlain, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in last Friday's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He's lost for the year, while Curtis Lofton (high ankle sprain) and David Hawthorne (torn knee cartilage) are also injured, and their status is questionable for the September 9 season opener against the Washington Redskins.

Middle linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Ramon Humber are also out, serving suspensions by the league.

Ruud, who is 29-years-old, is 6:1, and 242 pounds. He was a second round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, out of Nebraska, back in 2005.

Ruud played six seasons in Tampa Bay, before moving to Tennessee last season. He signed with the Seahawks in April, but became expendable after the team drafted Bobby Wagner in the second round.

From 2007-2010, Ruud was a starter in Tampa Bay, with his best season coming in 2009, when he accumulated 107 tackles.

Last season, Ruud started nine games at middle linebacker with the Titans before a groin injury ended his year with 40 tackles.

In seven NFL season, Ruud has started 77 games, with 471 tackles, and seven interceptions.

If Lofton is unable to answer the bell in the season opener, then Ruud is likely to start.

When Lofton is ready to go, then Ruud becomes a valuable back-up at the middle linebacker position.

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