In the wake of losing rookie linebacker Kaden Elliss for the season with a knee injury, the New Orleans Saints brought back linebacker Stephone Anthony.

Anthony was a free agent before joining the Saints, as the New York Jets released him on Aug. 31.

The Saints reached out to Anthony on Tuesday afternoon, who was at home in Georgia when his old team called.

"They were hurting at linebacker, needed some help and I was that fortunate that coach Payton and (defensive coordinator Dennis Allen) took that chance and called me again."

The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport first reported the news.

The 27-year-old linebacker is a former first-round pick of the Saints, No. 31 in the 2015 NFL draft. He was drafted with the pick received in the blockbuster trade that sent tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks.

The other player included in that trade was center Max Unger, who retired before the 2019 season.

Elliss' absence further depleted a linebacker corps that was already without Alex Anzalone, placed on injured reserve last week with a shoulder injury.

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Anthony had a successful rookie season in New Orleans, collecting 112 tackles, a sack, an interception and two forced fumbles. He played in 10 games in 2016 before an injury ended his season.

His New Orleans tenure ended with a trade to the Miami Dolphins before the 2017 season that returned a fifth-round pick. That pick was used in the Saints' trade to move up in the 2018 draft to select defensive end Marcus Davenport.

While in Miami, Anthony recorded 21 tackles in his two seasons, playing for now-Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi.

"Rizzi's awesome," Anthony said. "He has to be one of the top special teams coaches in this game. No question. This game is about relationships, and that's one that I appreciate that I have."

After leaving Miami, he had short stints with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets in the offseason.

Anthony said he's not yet sure how the Saints will use him, but he knows he's changed since the last time he set foot in the Saints facility.

"You grow every year," Anthony said. "I mean, hopefully you're learning something every year. I think, other than football, as a man, as a father, I think I've grown tremendously."

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