New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma visited on Monday with Dr. William Meyers, a Philadelphia-based sports hernia specialist, who confirmed that surgery on Vilma's groin was not required.

"We knew before he flew out this morning that the type of injury he had was not going to be a sports hernia surgery," Saints head coach Sean Payton said, via Mike Triplett of The Times-Picayune. "It's really more of the lower abductor-groin area," Payton said. "The key was just having another set of eyes on it to confirm what we found, and then basically set the plan in place for the rehab."

Payton ruled Vilma out for Thursday's pre-season finale, and hopes that with rest and rehab, Vilma will be ready to go for the 2010 regular season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings on September 9.

Vilma (6-1, 230) led the Saints with 110 tackles in 2009, adding a pair of quarterback sacks and three interceptions as the captain of an opportunistic Saints' defense that was pivotal in the team's win over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.