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TAMPA, Fla. -- The New Orleans Saints placed nose tackle John Jenkins on injured reserve and promoted quarterback Ryan Griffin from the practice squad Saturday.

That doesn’t mean Griffin is expected to play in Sunday’s season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When the Saints made similar moves with two other practice-squad players earlier this week, coach Sean Payton explained that they were just using the roster spots to “secure” younger players under contract heading into 2015.

Payton has insisted the Saints (6-9) will play their starters and play to win Sunday and that they won’t use the game to audition younger players.

Jenkins was listed as questionable with an abdomen injury Friday after not practicing all week. Clearly the Saints decided they weren’t going to play him in the game.

Griffin, a second-year pro from Tulane, is expected to compete for New Orleans' backup job behind Drew Brees next year. He was beat out for the job by veteran Luke McCown this year and wound up spending the season on the practice squad. The Saints are high on the potential of the undrafted QB, though, and moved Griffin to the active roster in 2013 to prevent him from being signed away by the St. Louis Rams.

New Orleans Saints place John Jenkins on IR, promote Ryan Griffin - ESPN

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