The Saints also ended the season for offensive tackle Charles Brown, who missed the team's last three contests with a knee injury, by moving him to IR as well.
Jenkins had started New Orleans' first 13 games of the season before hurting his hamstring in last Sunday's 55-27 loss to the New York Giants. The 2009 first-round draft pick had compiled a career-best 94 tackles and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown in a win at Oakland on Nov. 18, prior to the injury.
Brown had spent much of the year as the Saints' main backup tackle and earned three starts before going down in the club's Week 11 matchup with the Raiders.
To fill the available roster spots, New Orleans promoted offensive lineman Ricky Henry and rookie safety Jerico Nelson to the active roster from the practice squad.
