Saints placed K Garrett Hartley (hip) on injured reserve, ending his season.

Hartley's recovery timetable had him on pace for a post-Halloween return. John Kasay has yet to miss a kick, so the Saints may have decided it was too much of luxury to carry two kickers for another 4-5 weeks. The organization remains high on Hartley's future, so he'll almost certainly be back as the primary kicker in 2012.

Coach Sean Payton takes exception to a report that K Garrett Hartley (hip) will miss 8-10 weeks.

Saints K Garrett Hartley is out at least six weeks with a hip flexor.

Coach Sean Payton downplayed the minor hip injury that sidelined Garrett Hartley late in Sunday's game.

Payton does not think the tweaked hip is serious. He also confirmed that Hartley was not kicking extra points purely for precautionary reasons. It sounds Hartley is merely day-to-day and can still be selected as a top-10 fantasy kicker.

Saints K Garrett Hartley was removed from Sunday night's game after tweaking his right hip.

Trainers were discussing the injury with Hartley on the bench while the Saints opted to go for a two-point conversion. It's possible that the Saints are simply using extra precaution here, but we'd remove Hartley from cheat sheets until an update is given on his status.

Garrett Hartley's new five-year deal with the Saints has a $10.3 million base value, with roughly $3 million guaranteed.

There's another $2.7M in incentives. Hartley has a great leg when his mind is right, but his biggest plus has always been Sean Payton's support. In a dome and high-flying offense, he'll remain an elite fantasy kicker in 2011. And Hartley now has job security, the lack of which made him risky in previous years.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Saints have agreed to terms with K Garrett Hartley on a five-year contract extension.

Garrett Hartley has made seven straight field goals and 13 of his last 14.

Those early season yips are clearly behind Hartley. He's back to where he was at the end of last season -- an elite NFL and fantasy kicker. Hartley will be kicking in a dome in each of the final two weeks of the season.

Coach Sean Payton insists he never lost confidence in K Garrett Hartley earlier this season.

"We see too much and too many things that he's doing well," said Payton "He has too much leg talent and he's produced in big spots for us." Hartley has made 10 of his last 11 field goals, including five critical kicks against the Cowboys and Bengals.

Saints K Garrett Hartley (probable, ankle) practiced fully again on Friday.

Hartley should be in fantasy lineups for Sunday's game at Carolina.

Saints K Garrett Hartley (ankle) returned to practice Thursday.

Hartley is fine to use against the Panthers this week.

Saints K Garrett Hartley missed practice Wednesday with an ankle injury.

Asked about his Week 9 status, Hartley said he's "100 percent, absolutely" ready to kick against Carolina. Since replacing John Carney in Week 6, Hartley is 5-of-6 on field goals, though he's got just one touchback.

Coach Sean Payton expressed confidence in Garrett Hartley even though his kicker missed another chippy on Sunday.

Hartley pulled a 33-yard attempt in the third quarter wide left and clearly has some mental issues he needs to sort out. Payton said Hartley is "going to get back out there," but we have to think the Saints will at least take a look at a veteran this week. Fantasy owners should be looking elsewhere.

Coach Sean Payton expressed confidence in Garrett Hartley's ability to handle field-goal duties for the rest of the season.

"He's our kicker," said Payton. "He's had a great couple of weeks kicking. He's got too much ability. He's gonna play well." Hartley reward Payton's faith last season. The Saints are looking for a repeat this year. He should be picked up as a K1 if he's available.

Barring an unexpected free agent signing, Garrett Hartley will resume field-goal duties for the Saints this week.

Hartley remains a respectable 83.9 percent field-goal kicker, but he lost his job when he missed three field goals in the Saints' first three games. He's better than that, though, so pick him up as a potential K1 option the rest of the way.

Saints coach Sean Payton hinted that Garrett Hartley could get his job back following John Carney's costly miss in Week 5.

With the score tied at 13 in the third quarter, Carney missed a 29-yard field goal. It opens to the door for Hartley, who has been a bystander the last two weeks.

The player rep for Garrett Hartley insists the kicker is still "a big part" of the Saints' plans.

"Long term they have made it very clear that they want Garrett to be their kicker and work through this," said the agent. "And that's what they did last year when he came back from his suspension." Hartley is expected to be de-activated this week with John Carney handling field-goal duties.

Garrett Hartley has lost his field-goal kicking duties to John Carney entering the Saints' Week 4 matchup against the Panthers.

Hartley can be dropped in all fantasy leagues. The Saints will go forward with a plan identical to last year's. Hartley will remain on the roster, but he won't be active on game days.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Saints coach Sean Payton has not yet fully given up on K Garrett Hartley.

Payton is "fully aware" of Hartley's disappointing start, but last season's Super Bowl winning coach is a big fan of the former Oklahoma Sooner. Entering 2010, Hartley had made 91.7 percent of his career field goals. The Saints could sign free agent John Carney on Tuesday, and let him battle Hartley on the practice field this week for the right to start versus Carolina.

Garrett Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime during Sunday's loss to the Falcons.

It's a horrific and embarrassing miss for Hartley, who also missed two field goals in Week 1. Still, don't forget that Hartley was clutch during the Saints' Super Bowl run and he has a long leash. We don't expect the Saints to cut bait.