Junior Galette Injury: Updates on Saints LB's Pectoral and Return

New Orleans Saints linebacker Junior Galette is hopeful to return to the field during the preseason after he revealed he won't need surgery for a pectoral injury he suffered in the weight room, which was revealed on June 4.

Continue for updates.

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Galette Comments on Injury, Won't Need Surgery 

Thursday, June 18

"Galette said he was doing the bench press when the injury happened and, 'I got a little heavy,'" per ESPN's Mike Triplett, who provided more from Galette:

"

I was trying to get stronger in the offseason. It just happened, it's kind of freakish. I knew it was something major, it wasn't minor. I heard it ripping like a towel. You can hear it ripping when it's a muscle, lifting, and I got up and said, 'I think something's wrong.' But I knew I had my range of motion ... so I knew it couldn't be that bad.

[...]

Obviously, no athlete ever wants to go under the knife, especially when they don't really have to, and if it's 50-50, then I'm not going to do it. It's definitely major for me that I don't have to go under the knife, you know, have to go through the rehab, surgery and then starting all over again. I've had surgery before on my labrum, and it's never really been the same. So ... I was iffy about the surgery, but I got good news with the doctors, all I need is to rehab it now so I can come back 100 percent

"

Saints head coach Sean Payton confirmed the team is optimistic about Galette's diagnosis and that the plan is to have him back in the fold for training camp, according to Triplett on June 16.

Galette has made 22 sacks over the past two seasons, helping him earn a massive extension as he stands out in an otherwise shaky New Orleans defense.

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