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

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

The third-year pro, who went undrafted out of Weber State, has been the Saints’ leading threat with three touchdowns of 43 yards or more this season. He also returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown The 51:27 defeat on Sunday 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 taking a helmet-to-helmet blow.

After Shaheed was removed from the active roster, the Saints previously added receivers Jermaine Jackson and Equanimeous St. Brown to the active roster Thursday night’s game against the Denver Broncosin which New Orleans went 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 disabled 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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