Saints' defensive end Grant to miss playoffs

Grant, 31, was placed on injured reserve because of an injury similar to the one that ended his season in 2008 after eight games.

Grant, a first-round pick of the Saints in 2002, anchored the left side of the line and started in all 16 regular season games. He had 53 tackles and 5-1/2 sacks.

The Saints finished the regular season top of the NFC South with a 13-3 record but enter the playoffs on a three-game losing skid.

The team said they had re-signed veteran defensive end Paul Spicer, who was released in pre-season.

(Writing by Frank Pingue, editing by Justin Palmer)