NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints placed Rashid Shaheed on injured reserve after the starting receiver had what is expected to be season-ending knee surgery on Thursday.

Shaheed, whose 349 yards and three touchdowns receiving led the Saints in both categories through six games, needed meniscus surgery, coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday.

The third-year pro, who was undrafted out of Weber State, was the Saints' top deep threat, with three touchdowns of 43 yards or longer this season. He also returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown during Sunday's 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His absence coincides with that of starting receiver Chris Olave, who entered the concussion protocol early in last Sunday's game after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet hit.

With Shaheed removed from the active roster, the Saints added receivers Jermaine Jackson and Equanimeous St. Brown to the active roster in advance of Thursday night's game against the Denver Broncos, which New Orleans entered on a four-game losing streak.

Also inactive against Denver were quarterback Derek Carr (oblique), guard Cesar Ruiz (knee), linebacker Pete Werner (hamstring), defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (back), tight end Taysom Hill (ribs) and running back Jordan Mims.

The Broncos activated three players from injured reserve for the game: outside linebacker Baron Browning, cornerback Damarri Mathis and offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey.

The Broncos deactivated cornerback Pat Surtain II (concussion), cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, offensive tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle), tight end Greg Dulcich, linebacker Dondrea Tillman and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike.

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