METAIRIE, La. -- A few things have changed since the last time Jo-Lonn Dunbar was with the New Orleans Saints.
Less than 10 of his former teammates remain -- only two of them on defense -- since the linebacker began his career in New Orleans from 2008-2011. And he figured his new locker was about two spots over to the right from his old locker.
Otherwise, Dunbar was feeling a lot of déjà vu after re-signing with his original team on Thursday.
“There’s a few familiar faces. The guys have changed, just like any other team. The defense is a little different,” said Dunbar, who was with the St. Louis Rams from 2012 until being cut earlier this week. “But you know, Rob [Ryan] has a unique defense just like Gregg [Williams -- who coached Dunbar in both New Orleans and part of the time in St. Louis].
“So once you figure that out, you figure out the terminology, then it’s just playing.”
The Saints brought back Dunbar because of injuries to veteran linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and David Hawthorne this week. So it’s unclear how permanent his return will be.
But the Saints certainly seem to hold him in high regard since they made the quick phone call when they needed help and he became available.
Dunbar was both a part-time starter and a special-teams standout during his first stretch in New Orleans, which began when he signed as an undrafted free agent out of Boston College. But coach Sean Payton said he has mostly served as a first- and second-down linebacker with the Rams in recent years.
“He’s someone that learns real fast, that’s an asset of his. So it made a lot of sense,” said Payton, who said it’s possible Dunbar could be active right away Sunday against the New York Giants, depending on Ellerbe’s status.
Veteran backup Ramon Humber will likely replace Ellerbe in the starting lineup if needed.
An added bonus for Dunbar -- he got to be reunited with his 3-year-old daughter, who lives in New Orleans. He said he surprised her at cheerleading practice on Thursday afternoon.
Dunbar also got his first look at the giant championship banner from the Saints’ 2009 Super Bowl season that now hangs in their indoor facility with his name listed on it among all the other players from that year.
"That was my first time seeing it, so it was kind of sweet to come in here and see that yesterday," Dunbar said. "I took some pictures, sent them off to my mom and stuff like that, so she was happy."
To make room for Dunbar, the Saints released receiver T.J. Graham, who has now been on and off the roster twice in the past two weeks.