Chip

Vaughn

Vaughn was placed on injured reserve last September after undergoing minor knee surgery. It’s not known if it’s the same knee that is currently bothering him. Last year’s fourth-rounder will have a hard time making the roster this season.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that Vaughn and LB Stanley Arnoux (Achilles) would be held out of rookie minicamp due to injuries. It turns out they’re not participating because they’re no longer rookies. Both players are considered fully recovered from last year’s injuries.

Vaughn played on the same talent-rich Wake Forest defense as fellow rooks Aaron Curry, Alphonso Smith, and Stanley Arnoux. With very good speed (4.51) for a 6'1/221-pounder, Vaughn should be a terror on special teams.

Maybe the Saints should’ve stayed away from Wake Forest defenders in the draft. Their other Demon Deacon pick (Stanley Arnoux) already is out for the season. A fourth-round pick, Vaughn was slated for special teams duty.

Vaughn’s mid-August knee surgery was only going to cost him the first few weeks of the season, so he must not have shown much on the practice field pre-injury. The 2009 fourth-round pick will be back to compete in 2010.

It’s the position many teams expected him to ultimately play at the NFL level, so the Saints have plenty of leverage with free agent Darren Sharper. Usama Young and 2009 fourth-rounder Chip Vaughn are the other options, but Jenkins makes more sense. The Saints secondary has come a long way since Jason David.

A fourth-round pick in the 2009 draft, Vaughn also spent time on the Eagles’ practice squad this year. He’s a prospect for the Colts’ coverage teams.

Vaughn was dropped last week to make room for WR Chris Brooks. The two are switching spots this week, with Brooks likely to end up back on the Colts’ practice squad.

A fourth-round pick in the 2009 draft, Vaughn was a disappointment in 2010 camp after missing his rookie season due to a knee injury. At 221 pounds with 4.5 speed, the Saints were hoping he’d emerge as a core special teamer.

The 2009 fourth-rounder was let go to make room for practice squad receiver Chris Brooks with Blair White joining Austin Collie on the inactives list.