The New Orleans Saints announced Wednesday, Dec. 20 that they have re-signed tight end John Phillips and have placed linebacker A.J. Klein on Injured Reserve. The announcements were made by Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.

Phillips, 6 feet 5, 251 pounds, is a nine-year NFL veteran who was originally selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft (208th overall) out of the University of Virginia. The Hot Springs, Va., native has appeared in 111 games with 39 starts and has posted career totals of 55 receptions for 390 yards with five touchdowns and 34 special teams tackles. In 2016, Phillips started the season with the Denver Broncos where he appeared in eight games with three starts and posted five receptions for 40 yards with one touchdown. He was claimed off of waivers by the Saints at midseason and then appeared in eight games for them with four starts and caught five passes for 32 yards. Phillips went to 2017 training camp with the Saints.

Klein signed with New Orleans in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers, who originally selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft (148th overall) out of Iowa State. The Kimberly, Wis., native started all 12 games he appeared in for New Orleans and recorded 54 tackles (37 solo), two sacks, five passes defensed and a forced fumble.