The New Orleans Saints' injury woes have not relented, and this time it's the kicking game that's looking for answers.
Saints placekicker Wil Lutz is expected to miss the start of the season with a core muscle injury that will require surgery. The news was first reported by ESPN's Mike Triplett.
The kicker confirmed the injury in a social media post Monday morning.
"Unfortunately, I found out that my training camp will be cut short due to an injury that had progressively worsened," Lutz said.
Lutz began training camp on the non-football injury, an issue that Saints GM Mickey Loomis described as soft tissue and not expected to keep him out long. If Lutz has to undergo surgery, the recovery timetable would be projected at about eight weeks.
The Saints are working out kickers, according to a report from Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football.
Saints coach Sean Payton said the injury began as a "core muscle strain" that got progressively worse last week.
"Rather than wait we're going to go ahead and have that done right away," Payton said after Monday's practice.
The Saints are already working to replace longtime punter Thomas Morstead, quarterback Drew Brees and will be without star wide receiver Michael Thomas to start the season as he recovers from surgery in June.
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