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Moving quickly to bolster a tailback position severely weakened by the season-ending knee injury suffered on Sunday by star Deuce McAllister, the New Orleans Saints acquired Jesse Chatman in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, ESPN.com has learned.

It was not immediately known what Miami received in return, but the compensation is believed to be a 2006 draft choice.

The acquisition of Chatman, a four-year veteran who spent the first three seasons of his career with the San Diego Chargers, came as the Saints were reeling from the loss of their running game workhorse and the offensive centerpiece. New Orleans spoke with several teams on Monday about potential deals, with some of those talks initiated by the other franchises, as the Saints sought a replacement running back.

It is believed that Dallas contacted the Saints to see if they were interested in five-year veteran Anthony Thomas, the league's offensive rookie of the year in 2001, but buried at this point on the Cowboys depth chart.

In the absence of McAllister, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee in the third quarter of the Saints' 52-3 loss at Green Bay last weekend, New Orleans likely will split playing time between veteran tailbacks Antowain Smith and Aaron Stecker. But the low-slung Chatman, just 5-feet-8 but a stocky 245 pounds, might offer an intriguing alternative once he assimilates a new offense.

For most of his career, Chatman was the backup to Chargers star LaDainian Tomlinson, a change-of-pace and third-down back who has averaged an impressive 5.4 yards per carry over his career. A former Eastern Washington star, signed by San Diego as an undrafted free agent in 2002, Chatman enjoyed a career-best season in 2004, carrying 65 times for 392 yards (a 6.1-yard average) and three touchdowns.

Chatman, 26, fell out of favor with the Chargers' coaching staff this summer, though, and the team also drafted former Kansas State tailback Darren Sproles in the fourth round. The Chargers released Chatman and he was signed by the Dolphins. With the return of Ricky Williams from a four-game suspension for repeat violations of the NFL substance abuse policy, the already crowded Miami tailback depth chart became further glutted. And Chatman, who had not played in a game for the Dolphins, became expendable.

The Saints will assume Chatman's one-year contract, which has a $455,000 base salary. Prorated over the remaining 12 weeks of the season, they owe him $321,176.

For his career, Chatman has appeared in 41 games, with no starts, and has rushed for 428 yards and three touchdowns on 79 carries. He has 10 receptions for 115 yards and he has returned six kickoffs for a 20.0-yard average.

McAllister will seek a second opinion on his damaged right knee, and surgery has not yet been scheduled, and likely won't be until the swelling subsides. But the matter appears academic and the Saints will finish what already has been a dismal season without the veteran who is arguably their best offensive player, one who signed a lucrative seven-year contract extension at the start of training camp.

By:Len Pasquerelli of ESPN.com