METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints linebacker Junior Galette confirmed that he found out Monday he won't need surgery for a pectoral injury he suffered in the weight room. He's not sure of the specific timetable for a return.
"Everyone's different," Galette said. "Hopefully, we'll shoot for the preseason, but we'll see."
Galette said he was doing the bench press when the injury happened and, "I got a little heavy."
“I was trying to get stronger in the offseason. It just happened, it's kind of freakish,” Galette said. "I knew it was something major, it wasn't minor. I heard it ripping like a towel. You can hear it ripping when it's a muscle, lifting, and I got up and said, 'I think something's wrong.' But I knew I had my range of motion ... so I knew it couldn't be that bad."
Galette's uncertainty lingered, though, due to conflicting opinions from two doctors -- one that suggested surgery, one that didn't. He waited on a deciding opinion from Dr. James Andrews, which came this week.
"Obviously, no athlete ever wants to go under the knife, especially when they don't really have to, and if it's 50-50, then I'm not going to do it," Galette said. "It's definitely major for me that I don't have to go under the knife, you know, have to go through the rehab, surgery and then starting all over again. I've had surgery before on my labrum, and it's never really been the same. So ... I was iffy about the surgery, but I got good news with the doctors, all I need is to rehab it now so I can come back 100 percent."
Galette said the injury diagnosis was probably the best news he got all year. He spoke at length Wednesday about a turbulent offseason that included a domestic violence charge that was later dismissed.
In other Saints injury news:
Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro watched practice from the sideline Wednesday after pulling up lame during a special teams drill on Tuesday. Vaccaro said it's just a minor hamstring issue and that he’ll sit out the rest of this week’s minicamp as a precaution.
Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux also remained sidelined Wednesday after leaving with a trainer Tuesday for an undisclosed reason.
Cornerback Brandon Browner had to be assisted off the field by trainers late in Wednesday's practice, but it appeared to be a cramping issue and nothing serious. He watched the rest of practice from the sideline.
Receiver Marques Colston, defensive linemen Akiem Hicks, Brodrick Bunkley and Glenn Foster and linebacker Davis Tull remained sidelined with injuries. Hicks appeared to be moving well while joining the team for stretch and working off to the side with trainers. Saints coach Sean Payton said Tull (shoulder) is expected back during training camp. That will likely be the timetable for all injured Saints players.