With three wide receivers injured, the Saints signed veteran Greg Camarillo on Sunday, interim coach Joe Vitt confirmed Monday.
Camarillo, entering his seventh season, has 142 career catches for 1,686 yards and five touchdowns, including two very productive years with the Miami Dolphins. He caught 55 passes for 613 yards in 2008 and followed with 50 catches for 552 yards in 2009.
The Dolphins traded him to the Minnesota Vikings in Aug. of 2010. He had 20 receptions his first year in Minnesota and nine last season. The Vikings chose not to re-sign him.
“This was my first time being a free agent,” Camarillo said. “I was excited about it when free agency started, but it kept rolling and kept rolling and I never got a call.”
The Saints finally called because they are without receivers Adrian Arrington, who had knee surgery on Aug. 13, rookie Nick Toon, sidelined with a left-foot problem since early in training camp, and Andy Tanner, who sustained a sprained ankle last Friday against Jacksonville. They have no clear No. 4 guy behind Marques Colston, Lance Moore and Devery Henderson.
To make room for Camarillo, the Saints put offensive lineman Fenuki Tupou on injured reserve with a triceps tear.
“I wasn’t expecting to get a bunch of suitors, but I figured I’d get a shot somewhere," Camarillo said. "Fortunately that shot came here. It was obviously a little later than I was expecting. I’ll try to make the most of it.”
His first order of business is simple.
“I’ve got to learn the playbook,” he said. “If you can’t learn the plays, you’ll never get a shot. I’ve got to pick up the playbook as quickly as possible and then impress when I get the opportunity.”
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLNO.
