New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Tuesday that the club has signed free agent defensive Jeff Charleston and terminated the contract of wide receiver Terrance Copper.

Charleston, 6-4, 265 pounds, is in his second season in the NFL. He first signed with the Saints as a free agent last Wednesday, practicing with the team before being waived Saturday. The product of Idaho State originally broke into the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Houston Texans in 2006 before being waived at the conclusion of training camp. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts on January 4, 2007 and went on to play in 13 regular season games with the Colts last season, making three starts. Charleston has accumulated 42 career tackles, one sack, two pass defenses and a forced fumble in regular season play and also appeared in the Colts' AFC Divisional Playoff game last season.

Copper, a fifth-year wide receiver, has been with the Saints since being claimed off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2006 season. In 35 regular season games with New Orleans, Copper caught 38 passes for 511 yards and five touchdowns and added 15 tackles on special teams. The East Carolina alum played in two postseason contests with the club, catching four passes for 32 yards. This season, Copper played in five of the team's six games but did not record a reception.