Ellerbe (toe) is active for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.

EDGE Analysis

Ellerbe will make his Saints regular-season debut, and while he's listed atop the depth chart at weakside linebacker, he may have a limited role. If he has an every-down role, or eventually works his way into one, Ellerbe could be a surprisingly productive IDP.

Ellerbe (toe) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.

EDGE Analysis

Ellerbe is seemingly ready for his Saints regular-season debut, but the extent of his role is unclear. Until he shows otherwise, there's little cause for IDP consideration.

Ellerbe (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's regular-season opener in Arizona, the Saints' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ellerbe hasn't logged much practice time since injuring his toe in the preseason opener, and he was unsurprisingly a non-participant at Friday's session. David Hawthorne will likely draw the start at outside linebacker in Ellerbe's absence.

Ellerbe (toe) returned to practice on Wednesday but did not participate in team drills and only took part in the stretching portion open to the media, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

EDGE Analysis

Ellerbe has not practiced much, if at all, since suffering an injury in the preseason opener, which puts his availability for Week 1 in serious doubt. Still, the Saints did not place Ellerbe on the PUP list - likely indicating the team believes Ellerbe will return sometime within the next few weeks. David Hawthorne will start at outside linebacker in Ellerbe's absence.

Ellerbe (hip) was traded along with a third-round draft pick to the Saints in exchange for wide receiver Kenny Stills. Ellerbe was likely going to be released, just one year after signing a big contract with the Dolphins. He struggled during his first season in Miami, even before a hip injury brought his campaign to an early end. The Saints likely won't owe Ellerbe any guaranteed money, and it's possible the team has a pay cut in mind. Assuming he's still with the team and makes a full recovery from the hip injury, Ellerbe should enter training camp as the favorite to start at inside linebacker for New Orleans. Such a role would put him firmly on the IDP radar, despite his unimpressive statistical track record.

Ellerbe is expected to be released in the near future, according to the Miami Herald. Ellerbe (hip) hasn't been the defensive dynamo the Dolphins thought they were getting when they signed him after the 2013 season. He missed the 2014 campaign due to a hip injury and will more than likely be looking for a new team to play for the coming season.

Ellerbe is expected to be a salary cap casualty, according to the Miami Herald. With Ellerbe's production not matching his salary and with Jelani Jenkins proving that he could handle a starting job last season there just isn't much reason to keep Ellerbe on the roster.

Ellerbe (hip) has finally been able to abandon his crutches, according to the Miami Herald's Adam Besley. While it is certainly good news that Ellerbe is off crutches, he's still not able to run and at this point in time is hoping to be able to do so by the time there are OTAs next spring.

Ellerbe (hip) will be placed on injured reserve, ending his 2014 season, The Palm Beach Post reports. Ellerbe injured his hip early in the Dolphins' Week 1 win over the Patriots and will now be sidelined for the remainder of the season. After recording 101 tackles in his debut season in Miami last year, Ellerbe entered this term as the team's starting weakside linebacker. As a result of Ellerbe landing on IR, the Dolphins will sign veteran Kelvin Sheppard.

Ellerbe (hip) will not return to Sunday's game against the Patriots, The Miami Herald reports. Ellerbe suffered a hip injury during the first half of Sunday's regular season opener and will not return. As a result, the Dolphins are without each of their three starting linebackers, since Philip Wheeler (thumb) is inactive and Koa Misi (ankle) has also been ruled out following an in-game exit due to injury.