METAIRIE, La. — Saints starting linebackers Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne are injured and it’s not certain whether either will be back for New Orleans’ regular-season opener against Washington.

Assistant head coach Joe Vitt says Lofton has a high ankle sprain. Hawthorne has a torn meniscus and was scheduled for surgery Monday.

Vitt is not specifying which leg either player hurt. He says he hopes Lofton will return for the Redskins game and possibly before preseason ends.

Lofton, one of the Saints’ top free-agent acquisitions, is expected to start this season at middle linebacker.

Vitt says that while Lofton is out, Ramon Humber will take over at middle linebacker. However, Humber is suspended the first three regular-season games for testing positive for a banned substance.