The New Orleans Saints signed running back Tim Hightower to a reserve/future contract Sunday, giving him a chance to resurrect his career after a lingering knee injury.

Hightower, 28, has been out of football since suffering a torn ACL and undergoing surgery in 2011 as a member of the Washington Redskins. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL draft.

The 6-foot, 220-pound Hightower has 2,054 rushing yards, 879 receiving yards and 25 total touchdowns in his four-year career. He also ran 70 yards for a touchdown in Arizona’s playoff loss to the Saints in 2009. He rushed for 736 yards and scored five touchdowns in his best season for the Cardinals in 2010.

Hightower is the second veteran trying to come back from a long layoff to be signed to a reserve/future contract by New Orleans. Former New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles safety Kenny Phillips, who hasn’t played since 2012 because of nagging injuries, signed with the Saints last week.

The purpose of a reserve/future contract is to allow teams to fill out the training camp roster and prevent other clubs from taking their promising players.