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Saints WR Chris Hogan To Retire

October 23rd, 2021 at 4:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chris Hogan left football behind earlier this year, opting to try lacrosse again. But he ultimately decided to play a 10th NFL season, signing with the Saints. One day away from his 34th birthday, the veteran wide receiver is stepping away from the game again.

After playing in five games with the Saints, Hogan is now on the team’s reserve/retired list. Hogan caught on with New Orleans just before the start of the season. He caught four passes for 41 yards, including his 19th career touchdown, as a Saint.

A four-year Bills contributor, Hogan will be best remembered for his mid-career run with the Patriots. Plucked by the Pats via an RFA offer sheet in 2016, Hogan played a key role for two Super Bowl champion squads. Hogan led the NFL with 17.9 yards per reception in 2016 and totaled 12 touchdown catches in three Pats seasons.

The Monmouth alum delivered when called upon in the playoffs with the Pats. The ex-lacrosse player caught nine passes for 180 yards and two scores in the 2016 AFC championship game, finishing with 332 postseason receiving yards for the Super Bowl LI champions. With the Pats down Julian Edelman and then Brandin Cooks, Hogan then added 128 yards in Super Bowl LII a year later.

Hogan spent the past three seasons with three different teams, suiting up for the Panthers, Jets and Saints. He suffered injuries in both the 2019 and ’20 slates, with knee and ankle maladies limiting him to 12 games over that period.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/21/21

October 21st, 2021 at 12:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Saints Designate LB Kwon Alexander, DE Marcus Davenport, WR Tre’Quan Smith For Return

October 19th, 2021 at 5:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints are about to get some reinforcement. The team designated linebacker Kwon Alexander, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith for return from injured reserve today, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).

Alexander (elbow) and Davenport (shoulder) were both placed on IR in mid-September, meaning the earliest they could have returned was Week 5.

The Saints moved Davenport back into their starting lineup to start this season, providing the player with an opportunity to re-establish himself opposite Cameron Jordan. Davenport registered a sack and two QB hits in the Saints’ dominant Week 1 win over the Packers.

Alexander worked his way back from a December Achilles tear to be ready in time for the Saints’ opener, but this latest injury continued a rough run of health for the former Buccaneers standout. Alexander suffered a torn ACL in 2018, though he still landed a nice contract from the 49ers. However, the veteran linebacker sustained a pectoral muscle tear in his first 49ers season.

Smith landed on IR a bit earlier than his defensive teammates after suffering a hamstring injury. The injury dogged Smith for several weeks, as he tried and failed to come back from it twice. It caused the former third-round pick to miss extensive training camp time.

While the Saints will happily welcome back this trio, they’ll still be without one of the most notable players. While wideout Michael Thomas was eligible to return from PUP this week, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes (via Twitter) that there hasn’t been any news on his potential activation.

Saints Add Forrest Lamp To Taxi Squad

October 19th, 2021 at 1:12pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent guard Forrest Lamp has agreed to join the Saints’ practice squad (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The former second-round pick will be in the same group as veteran running back Lamar Miller, who agreed to join the 16-man unit earlier today. 

[RELATED: Lamar Miller Joins Saints Practice Squad]

Injuries have dogged Lamp for most of his pro career. He missed all of his 2017 rookie season with an ACL tear, and he missed the second half of the 2019 season due to a broken ankle. Overall, the former higher-end offensive line prospect has been limited to 25 games as a pro. On the plus side, he turned in a full 16-game slate for the Chargers last year and started in every contest.

The 27-year-old was set to play for the Bills this year, but a calf injury ultimately cost him his job. Now healthy, Lamp will try to earn his way onto the Saints’ 53-man roster.

Saints Add Lamar Miller To Practice Squad

October 19th, 2021 at 10:55am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have signed Lamar Miller to the practice squad, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The former Pro Bowl running back will give the Saints some extra insurance with Tony Jones on the injured reserve list. 

Miller auditioned for New Orleans earlier this month, along with Duke Johnson, Brian Hill, Ito Smith, and Ryquell Armstead. That same week, the Saints signed running back Devine Ozigbo off of the Jaguars’ taxi squad. Now, they’ve circled back to Miller, who was once one of the league’s top rushers.

The veteran has two 1,000-yard rushing seasons on his resume, including his ’18 Pro Bowl year. However, he hasn’t been the same since his 2019 ACL tear. He’s had stops with the Patriots, Bears, and the Washington Football Team in recent years, all amounting to two catches for six yards.

For now, the Saints’ RB group consists of Alvin Kamara, Dwayne Washington, and Ozigbo. Meanwhile, Miller and Armstead reside on the taxi squad.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/19/21

October 19th, 2021 at 10:13am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s taxi squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

  • Signed: LB Connor Strachan

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team

Saints’ Wil Lutz Designated For Return

October 18th, 2021 at 3:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Wil Lutz has been designated for return from the injured reserve list (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). It’s not clear if he’ll be ready for this week’s game against the Seahawks, but the Saints expect to see him in the next 21 days.

[RELATED: Latest On Saints’ Michael Thomas]

Lutz has served as New Orleans’ primary kicker since 2016. All in all, he’s made 86.6% of his field goal tries across his five-year career, positioning him as one of the best kickers in the game. He’s also made 253 out of 260 extra point attempts in the elongated XP era. Unfortunately, he aggravated a groin issue in early August, leaving the Saints to scramble. First, they turned to Aldrick Rosas, who went 1-4 on field goal tries. He’s since been replaced by veteran Cody Parkey.

Lutz, 27, is still attached to a five-year, $20.25MM extension he signed in March 2019. He’ll aim to resume his post this week when the Saints face the Seahawks in Seattle.

Latest On Saints’ Michael Thomas

October 18th, 2021 at 3:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Michael Thomas is still a few weeks away from returning to action (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The Saints star is already eligible to come off of the PUP list, but he can’t feasibly play again until sometime in November. 

[RELATED: Saints Release CB Desmond Trufant, Others]

The sixth-year standout underwent surgery later than the Saints wanted, causing a rift between the parties. While Thomas and Sean Payton are believed to be on better terms, the Saints are surely still annoyed with the receiver’s decision.

Thomas missed much of the 2020 slate due to injuries and a one-game suspension. His stock has dipped a bit, but he’s still not far removed from back-to-back first-team All-Pro seasons, including the NFL’s single-season reception record (149) in 2019.

The Saints are near the NFL cellar in passing yards, unfamiliar territory for one of the game’s most prolific aerial offenses. Until Thomas returns, they’ll forge ahead with Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harris, Ty Montgomery, Chris Hogan, Kenny Stills, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey as their WRs.

Saints Release CB Desmond Trufant, Others

October 12th, 2021 at 9:03pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints cleared a handful of roster spots today, letting go of three veterans. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Saints released kicker Cody Parkey, defensive back Brian Poole, and cornerback Desmond Trufant.

Parkey had a brief stint as the Saints starting kicker before suffering a groin injury that landed him on IR earlier today. Ultimately, the veteran was released with an injury settlement, allowing him to sign elsewhere (instead of being sidelined for three weeks before inevitably getting released). During New Orleans’ win over Washington the other day, Parkey didn’t attempt a field goal while converting three of his five extra point tries.

The kicker will be replaced by kicker Brian Johnson, who was signed off the Bears practice squad today. The Saints will continue to rotate through options at the position as they await Wil Lutz‘s return.

Trufant, a Pro Bowler during his time with the Falcons, joined the Saints in early September. He saw time in only two games for the Saints, collecting three tackles. The veteran hadn’t seen the field since Week 2, and he was pushed down the depth chart following the Bradley Roby acquisition. Now, the 31-year-old will have an opportunity to find work elsewhere.

Poole landed on injured reserve prior to the season, which meant he wasn’t going to see the field for New Orleans during the 2021 campaign. Like Parkey, he’ll be released with an injury settlement, allowing him to immediately find work elsewhere. Poole started 17 games for the Jets between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, collecting 103 tackles and three interceptions.

Besides the addition of Johnson, the Saints used one of their open roster spots to sign defensive tackle Christian Ringo.

Saints Sign K Brian Johnson Off Bears’ Practice Squad

October 12th, 2021 at 2:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following Cody Parkey‘s injury, the Saints will have a third kicker in three games. Brian Johnson looks set to succeed Aldrick Rosas and Parkey.

The Saints are signing Johnson off the Bears’ practice squad, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The team expressed interest in Ravens practice squad kicker Jake Verity, per NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill, but a Verity injury led the team to go with Johnson (Twitter link).

By rule, Johnson joining the Saints off the Bears’ P-squad will require his new team to carry him on its 53-man roster for at least three games. Parkey is now off New Orleans’ roster, having been placed on IR Monday. Parkey suffered a pulled groin during pregame warmups and struggled attempting to play through the injury.

A Virginia Tech alum, Johnson has not yet kicked in a regular-season NFL game. Johnson succeeded Joey Slye as the Hokies’ kicker, serving in that role with the ACC program from 2018-20. He made 20 0f 26 field goals as a senior. The Bears initially cut Johnson but kept him on their practice squad shortly after cutdown day. Although Wil Lutz is slated to return in the not-too-distant future, Johnson is set for an opportunity in New Orleans.

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