METAIRIE, La. -- Orlando Franklin was released Tuesday by the New Orleans Saints -- just five days after they signed the veteran guard.
Apparently the Saints didn't see enough from the former San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos starter in what amounted to an extended audition.
Franklin, 29, was released by the Chargers in May, just two years into a five-year, $36.5 million contract that didn't pan out because of injuries and inconsistent production. He had knee surgery in May to repair a lingering issue and said he waited until training camp to work out for teams in order to give the knee proper time to heal after he didn't feel 100 percent in a May workout with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Franklin (6-foot-6, 315 pounds) started 89 games at both guard and right tackle with the Broncos and Chargers after being drafted in the second round in 2011 out of Miami. Over the weekend, he described his time in San Diego as "two tough years for me," saying he was never 100 percent healthy and asked to be traded or released.
The Saints appear set with starting guards Larry Warford and Andrus Peat. But they were looking for added depth across the line with veterans Terron Armstead, Max Unger and Senio Kelemete all dealing with injuries.
The Saints also released undrafted rookie linebacker Sae Tautu from BYU with an injury designation after he was carted off the practice field with a knee injury over the weekend.
New Orleans signed undrafted rookie linebacker Jonathan Walton from South Carolina and undrafted rookie running back Darius Victor from Towson.