T.J.

Slaughter

He’s a longshot to make the roster. The Saints need help because of James Allen’s knee problems.

The winter meetings have delayed the deal so far, but both sides want this to happen. Slaughter is expected to start on the weak-side as the Ravens switch back to a 4-3. This has been in the works for some time and if you haven’t bumped up Slaughter on you cheat sheets, you should.

Slaughter, 30, was out of football last year. He has experience at inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, but will be lucky to last through the summer.

The 30-year-old Slaughter was out of football last year, and wasn’t expected to make it to camp with the Pats. Mixon was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seahawks in 2007, but ended up spending most of the season on New England’s practice squad.

Slaughter tore a ligament in his ring finger Sunday and joins rookie outside linebacker Parys Haralson on injured reserve.

The journeyman has played with the Saints, Ravens and Jaguars recently. He played under Mike Nolan in Baltimore.