Trevor Siemian To Remain Saints Starting QB?
With Jameis Winston done for the season, third-string QB Trevor Siemian has earned the last two starts for the Saints. Even with Taysom Hill fully recovered from his concussion, it sounds like Siemian could retain his starting gig. Per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the journeyman QB “has an opportunity to remain in place” as New Orleans looks to make a playoff push.
In three games this season, Siemian has completed only 57.7 percent of his pass attempts, but the 29-year-old has thrown for 706 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Sean Payton hasn’t definitively stated a plan at the position moving forward, and while Hill will remain a natural part of the offense, Siemian’s ability to (somewhat) replicate Drew Brees‘ offense makes him the favorite to keep the top spot on the depth chart (per La Canfora).
The Saints made a sizable commitment to Hill this offseason when they inked the Swiss Army Knife to what amounted to a one-year, ~$12MM extension. Hill has already seen four starts at QB this season, completing seven of his eight passes attempts for 56 yards and one interception. He also has 20 carries for 104 yards and three touchdowns, and he’s added another four receptions for 52 yards.
Meanwhile, Winston underwent successful surgery on his left knee last week, per Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. The surgery repaired a torn ACL and a “damaged’ MCL, and he’s already been released from the hospital.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/21
Here are Saturday’s practice squad moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: QB Danny Etling
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Pita Taumoepenu
- Placed on practice squad IR: CB Duke Dawson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Chase Hansen
Saints Move Chauncey Gardner-Johnson To IR, Activate Ken Crawley
The Saints will be without one of their secondary starters for a stretch. They placed Chauncey Gardner-Johnson on IR. The young defensive back is down with a foot injury.
Although Gardner-Johnson may be known more for inducing punches from wide receivers at this point in his career, the third-year defender has been a key presence in New Orleans’ veteran-laden secondary. The former fourth-round pick has started seven games for the Saints this season, working in multiple capacities — including the slot position.
Gardner-Johnson has made 26 tackles, one sack and an interception this season. The Saints have fellow corner/safety hybrid P.J. Williams capable of manning the slot as well, and the team activated veteran Ken Crawley off injured reserve Saturday.
Crawley has been with the Saints for most of his career, beginning with the team in 2016, but has played just one game this season. In addition to his IR stay, Crawley spent two weeks on the Saints’ reserve/COVID-19 list.
New Orleans also promoted wide receiver Kevin White from its practice squad and waived defensive lineman Christian Ringo. The team also promoted offensive lineman Will Clapp ahead of its Week 10 matchup with Tennessee. The Saints are set to be without left tackle Terron Armstead against the Titans.
Saints’ Alvin Kamara To Miss Week 10
Alvin Kamara will miss his first game this season. The Saints will hold their top skill-position player out against the Titans because of a knee sprain.
The fifth-year running back has not been especially injury-prone during his career, having missed just four games in four-plus seasons. But Kamara has missed at least one contest in each of the past three years.
New Orleans reacquiring Mark Ingram via trade looms larger now. Ingram has played around 30% of the Saints’ offensive snaps in his two games back with the team and has logged 15 carries in that span. The 11th-year veteran is also on track to break the team’s career rushing record, a mark Deuce McAllister holds with 6,096 yards, in Tennessee. Ingram is 20 yards away from eclipsing McAllister’s Saints standard.
Kamara, whose 21 touchdowns led the NFL last season, is 4-for-4 in Pro Bowls. Kamara’s 840 scrimmage yards through eight games had him on track for a career-best number here, though his absence this week will affect that pace.
This injury news will certainly sting a Saints team that is set to start Trevor Siemian for a second straight week and one that is missing Michael Thomas. The sixth-year wideout is out for the season. New Orleans was among the many teams that failed in a bid to sign Odell Beckham Jr. this week.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/21
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR A.J. Green
- Placed on IR: LS Aaron Brewer, TE David Wells
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: OL James Carpenter, DT Kahlil McKenzie.
- Signed to active roster: TE Eric Tomlinson, CB Chris Westry
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: CB Cameron Lewis, QB Davis Webb
- Placed on IR: DL Justin Zimmer
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Jake Fromm, WR Tanner Gentry
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Drue Tranquill
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: DE Chase Winovich
New Orleans Saints
- Activated off IR: TE Nick Vannett
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jason Pinnock
Saints Place DL Payton Turner On IR
The Saints are placing their rookie first-round pick on injured reserve. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), defensive lineman Payton Turner has been placed on IR.
Turner suffered a shoulder injury that limited him to a season-low 15 snaps during Sunday’s loss to the Falcons. The defensive lineman had just returned to the lineup after missing two games with a calf injury, so this is unfortunate timing for the rook. He’ll be out for at least the next three games.
The Houston product was selected by the Saints with the 28th-overall pick in the 2021 draft. He’s seen time in five games this season, collecting 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, three QB hits, and one sack. In his first four games of the season, Turner has appeared in at least 40 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.
Turner has mostly played defensive end since entering the NFL, and the Saints have plenty of depth at the position in Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Carl Granderson, and Jalyn Holmes.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/10/21
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LS Kyle Nelson, WR Darrius Shepherd
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Lafayette Pitts
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Patrick Omameh
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Herb Miller, RB Dexter Williams
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: K Lirim Hajrullahu
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Tom Kennedy
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Demone Harris
- Released: OL Carson Green
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Jeff Badet
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DE Nate Orchard
hoNew England Patriots
- Signed: C James Ferentz
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Josh Adams
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: LB Christian Elliss
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: QB Kevin Hogan, WR Chris Rowland
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/10/21
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Demetrius Harris
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return: OLB Dante Fowler
Carolina Panthers
- Designated for return: G Deonte Brown, WR Brandon Zylstra
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Chidobe Awuzie
Cleveland Browns
- Designated for return: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Nick Harris, RB John Kelly
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: K Lirim Hajrullahu
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Noah Fant
- Claimed (from Eagles): CB Mac McCain
Detroit Lions
- Placed on reserve/NFI list: DL Jashon Cornell
- Designated for return: CB Corey Ballentine, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu
Indianapolis Colts
- Designated for return: CB T.J. Carrie
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on IR: DE Darius Philon
- Signed to active roster: DE Kendal Vickers
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: C Cameron Tom
- Placed on IR: OL Greg Mancz
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: T Trent Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Ken Crawley, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
New York Jets
- Designated for return: OL Conor McDermott
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: RB Jordan Howard
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: RT Mike McGlinchey (story)
- Promoted: OL Colton McKivitz
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return: RB Chris Carson
Tennessee Titans
- Designated for return: CB Kristian Fulton
- Signed to active roster: CB Chris Jones
Patriots, Seahawks Still In OBJ Mix; Saints Frontrunners?
On his first full day as a free agent, Odell Beckham Jr. is dominating the NFL news cycle. Offers are coming in, and several teams remain in the mix.
The Saints emerged as a team on Beckham’s radar, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweets a belief in certain league circles exists that OBJ will end up in New Orleans. This is not a done deal, and New Orleans’ quarterback situation will affect its viability here. Beckham is a New Orleans native.
While some around the league view the wide receiver-needy Saints as having a leg up, the Seahawks have indeed reached out since Beckham became a free agent, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Seattle, which was linked to Antonio Brown last year and kept Josh Gordon in their plans for multiple years, was viewed as a suitor — and a frontrunner as recently as Sunday — for the eighth-year wideout.
The Patriots also “definitely” remain in the mix, according to Florio (on Twitter), though a previous report did not list them as a team Beckham was considering. New England also has a history of big-ticket receiver moves under Bill Belichick, and with the Browns covering $4.25MM of his salary, money is not the significant factor it usually is in high-end free agent pursuits. Beckham’s recent struggles notwithstanding, the Pats are not dismissing the notion he would be an interesting addition, NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran notes, and the team believes the mutual respect between Belichick and Beckham provides a genuine opportunity for a partnership, per Mike Giardi of NFL.com (Twitter links).
New Orleans lost Jameis Winston for the season and went with Trevor Siemian as its starter in Week 9, keeping Taysom Hill in his gadget role. The Saints, however, have a major receiver need and attempted to trade for OBJ before the deadline. Beckham’s high salary certainly affected that potential deal, but he has since cleared waivers, making an addition much more palatable to teams. The Saints, who cut Emmanuel Sanders earlier this year, will not have Michael Thomas this season and have felt the effects of their thin receiver depth chart.
With the Packers and Chiefs listed among teams to attract OBJ interest, it remains to be seen if the 29-year-old target — who is hoping to bounce back potentially ahead of a 2022 free agency run — will choose a Saints team with a far less appealing quarterback situation. Green Bay has offered Beckham a veteran-minimum deal, and it is unlikely another team will come in with a far more lucrative proposal. A sixth team is also in the mix, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tweets. While the 49ers were mentioned as Beckham suitors before his Browns exit, it is not known if they are still pursuing him.
Odell Beckham Jr. Interested In Chiefs, Packers, Saints; Patriots Reach Out
A first-time free agent, Odell Beckham Jr. could pick a new destination Wednesday. Some finalists appear to have emerged. The recently released wide receiver has prioritized landing with the Chiefs, Packers or Saints, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets.
Although the Patriots have reached out, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, talks between they and OBJ’s reps were more exploratory in nature (Twitter links). New England, which has strung together some wins after a slow start, has significant competition for the eighth-year pass catcher. Beckham cleared waivers Tuesday.
The Packers have made an offer, with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein reporting it is for the veteran minimum (Twitter link). The Browns are still on the hook for $4.25MM of OBJ’s salary, turning this into a recruiting skirmish of sorts.
The Saints have had Beckham on their radar for a bit, and NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan notes they indeed are among the teams Beckham is considering. They also might be more interested in Beckham than the Chiefs or Packers, given their connection to the struggling receiver prior to his Ohio exit. The LSU alum is a New Orleans native, and the 5-3 Saints have a glaring need for a No. 1 wide receiver — a deficiency the Chiefs and Packers do not possess. But New Orleans does not have a quarterback close to the level of Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes, potentially limiting its appeal as Beckham looks to re-establish his value.
Both the Chiefs and Packers would benefit from a No. 2 wideout, though the two-time reigning AFC champions are suddenly a bit needier here given their recent performance. Mahomes has run into the biggest slump of his career, as teams continually take away his long-feared long-range game, and Mecole Hardman has not worked out the way the franchise hoped opposite Tyreek Hill. The Packers’ offense struggled without Rodgers, and Davante Adams still has a sizable lead on every other Packer pass catcher in terms of yardage. Adams’ 786 yards are 500-plus more than any other Green Bay player’s total through Week 9.
Though money stands to factor in to some degree, Beckham prioritizing fit here makes more sense. Having turned 29 last week, the former Pro Bowler saw his value dip considerably in Cleveland. The ex-Giants superstar is running short on time to prove he can still be an impact player. Late-season production this year would certainly help Beckham’s cause in free agency come March, in the event he signs a one-year deal and hits free agency again at that point.
Seattle and Las Vegas also emerged on the radar for Beckham, and a Sunday report indicated he was interested in the Seahawks. The Raiders signing DeSean Jackson seemingly takes them out of the mix.