Saints Place DT Nick Fairley On Non-Football Injury List, Career Could Be Over

Update:

The New Orleans Saints have already confirmed the news that Nick Fairley has been placed on the non-football injury list.

#Saints have placed Nick Fairley on the team’s reserve/non-football illness (NFI) list pic.twitter.com/UDuUFoZWOz

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) June 26, 2017

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Nick Underhill of the Advocate is reporting that the Saints have placed DT Nick Fairley on reserve/non-football-injury with his heart condition.

• Adam Schefter confirms the news and adds that Fairley is officially out for the season and his NFL career could be over.

The Saints and Fairley have been waiting to get the results of a third medical opinion regarding his heart condition.

Saints HC Sean Payton previously told reporters that Fairley had received two medical opinions regarding his heart issue. The first said he should no longer play football, but Fairley is waiting on a third opinion before making and determination about his NFL career.

“He’s gotten two professional opinions,” Payton said, via NFL.com. “The first one was one that advised that he shouldn’t play football again. The second opinion was a little different, and he’s getting a third opinion or he’s already gotten a third opinion, we’re waiting on that opinion.

“The things we know are this, it’s obviously something significant and serious that we’ve got to pay attention to, obviously both for Nick and for the club. So we’re hopeful and yet we’re guarded because of the type of condition that we’re talking about.”

A report from a few weeks ago mentioned that Fairley was absent from the team’s OTA practices because of heart trouble that could jeopardize his NFL career. It’s worth mentioning, however, that this heart issue is something he’s dealt with since entering the NFL.

Fairley, 29, is a former first-round pick of the Lions back in 2011. He played out his rookie contract in Detroit before signing on a one-year, prove-it deal with the Rams in 2015.

Last year, the Saints signed Fairley to another one-year contract before they agreed to four-year, $28 million contract that included $14 million guaranteed this past March.

In 2016, Fairley appeared in all 16 games for the Saints and recorded 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 34 interior defensive lineman out of 127 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Fairley and his health as the news is available.