METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Jeff Charleston’s NFL career did not get off to a good start.
In fact, Charleston was thinking about other ways of earning a living after the Indianapolis Colts cut him just before the season began.
Charleston, 25, spent the first five weeks of the season helping out at a friend’s custom furniture store in Portland, Ore.
“I know every guy that’s in that position always thinks, ‘Is it the end?'” said Charleston, who played in 13 games with the Colts last season, his first in the NFL. “It ends sometime for everyone. So, obviously, I was thinking about it. I was thinking about the Canadian (Football League) or the Arena (Football League). You always think about things like that, or am I done and have to go get into the real world. I still had football on my mind. You never give up, but, obviously, it’s hard.”
Charleston got an encouragement boost when the New Orleans Saints signed him, but it didn’t last. He was cut, then the defensive end was re-signed Oct. 14.
After wallowing in obscurity the past month, Charleston turned in one of the best games of the season by a Saints defensive end during the team’s 30-20 win at Kansas City on Sunday.
Charleston, who got more game time following the season-ending triceps injury to starting left end Charles Grant, had two sacks and two quarterback hurries.
“He did a good job,” coach Sean Payton said. “He gave us a little bit of juice. He’s in the rotation now. He’s a guy that has done a good job in the course of the week. He’s one of those guys that have a high motor, and it’s always going.”
Charleston has no plans on stopping. He said he’s just getting comfortable with the Saints’ system and finally is beginning to feel like he is a part of the team.
“In this business, it’s kind of week to week,” he said. “You never know where you are going to be or where you are going to end up, but you make the best of your opportunity and just keep going.___
DEUCE’S MARK: Running back Deuce McAllister scored the 53rd touchdown of his eight-year career, tying Dalton Hilliard<</p>
McAllister’s 1-yard TD run with 11:23 to play in the second quarter gave the Saints a 10-7 advantage and they never trailed again.
McAllister has 47 rushing and five receiving TDs and another score on a fumble recovery and return. Hilliard had 39 rushing TDs and 14 receiving from 1986-93.
“It’s pretty special,” said McAllister. “Probably once it’s all said and done, you’ll really appreciate it more. But it<___
MONEY TALKS, WR DOESN’T: Wide receiver Lance Moore had 10,000 reasons to celebrate his 47-yard reception with quiet decorum on Sunday.
Moore passed on his usual end-zone dance after being fined $10,000 for excessively celebrating a touchdown during New Orleans’ victory over San Diego in London on Oct. 26.
“The last celebration I had cost me a little bit of money, so I decided to just stare at the crowd, give a couple of high-fives and walk off the field,” said Moore.___
INJURY UPDATE: Payton said there were two significant injuries from the game against the Chiefs.
Reserve tight end Mark Campbell injured the medial collateral ligament in his left knee, and backup running back Aaron Stecker has a hamstring injury.
Payton didn’t say how long either player will be out. Campbell said earlier Monday morning he was awaiting word from the doctor about the severity of his injury.
Meanwhile, Payton said it’s still too early to predict the availability of running back Reggie Bush, who has missed the past three games after having surgery to repair torn medial meniscus in his left knee.
——Contact The Daily Reveille news staff at [email protected]