The New Orleans Saints have put tight end Coby Fleener on the injured reserve, marking the end of the season for one of the league's better pass-catching tight ends.

Unfortunately, Fleener's season wasn't as productive as the Saints were likely hoping. Now on IR, he finishes this season with 22 catches for 295 yards and two touchdowns this year. He signed a five-year deal with the Saints in 2016, after completing his rookie contract in Indianapolis.

Coby Fleener, who was placed on injured reserve on Saturday, is seeing this happen six days after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit that didn’t result in his immediate removal from play.

The tight end is due to make $6.3 million in 2018. Of that amount, $3.4 million becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the next league year. Basically, New Orleans will have a relatively tough decision on its hands next season, at least if the National Football League franchise doesn't believe Fleener is providing the proper bang for that buck.

Fully expect some to take a gander at this medically induced IR move by New Orleans, and openly wonder why things weren't handled differently when Fleener got knocked on his noggin last weekend.

The 8-3 Saints host the 8-3 Panthers on Sunday for first place in the NFC South