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New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

Saints Place Tommylee Lewis On IR

August 21st, 2021 at 12:51pm CST by Ben Levine

To make room for kicker Aldrick Rosas and safety Jeff Heath, the Saints effectively moved on from a veteran today. The team announced that they’ve placed Tommylee Lewis on injured reserve.

[RELATED: Saints, S Jeff Heath Agree To Deal]

While the NFL recently made it easier for players to return from injury, that still doesn’t apply to players placed on the IR prior to the regular season. In order for a player to be “eligible to be designated for return” from IR/NFI, they need to be on the 53-man roster after final cuts (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter). This means players who are placed on IR during preseason are effectively sidelined for the season. It’s uncertain what ailment Lewis is dealing with, but the 28-year-old could conceivably negotiate an injury settlement if he hopes to see the field in 2021.

Lewis has spent the majority of his NFL career in New Orleans, seeing time in 39 games. He made a name for himself as a key returner, collecting 45 punts for 404 yards and 27 kicks for 617 yards. He also got some run on offense, compiling 30 touches for 306 yards and two touchdowns.

The former undrafted free agent signed with the Panthers last August but was waived before the start of the regular season. He caught on once again with the Saints, and he proceeded to get into five games. He re-signed with the organization back in July.

QB Jameis Winston To Start Saints’ Second Preseason Game

August 21st, 2021 at 9:29am CST by Ben Levine

After Taysom Hill started the Saints preseason opener, the team is making a change to their starting lineup. Jameis Winston will start Monday night’s game against the Jaguars, according to head coach Sean Payton (and via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter).

Payton has said throughout the preseason that the team will continue to rotate between Hill and Winston. In other words, we shouldn’t look too much into Winston’s start on Monday. More interesting will be how the team handles both quarterbacks throughout the exhibition; if one of the two players plays primarily with the starters, it could give us a clue into who will be starting Week 1.

As the Saints usher in the post-Drew Brees era, Hill and Winston are the two candidates to take the starting gig. Hill completed eight of his 12 passes for 81 yards and an interception during his start against the Ravens, while Winston completed seven of his 12 attempts for 96 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The team is also rostering Ian Book, who also tossed an interception during the preseason opener.

The Saints still refuse to show their hand at the quarterback position. When asked if any of the players had the lead for the starting job, Payton refused to give any information.

“I’m not going to have weekly or daily updates,” Payton said (via Michael Davis Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “These guys are both working hard.”

Saints, S Jeff Heath Agree To Deal

August 20th, 2021 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Veteran safety Jeff Heath has secured another opportunity. The Saints have reached an agreement with the former Cowboys and Raiders defender, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Heath joined fellow safety Andrew Sendejo at a workout Friday, and the Saints are going with the younger of the two. Heath is not especially young, by NFL terms, at 30. But he has been a starter for most of the past four seasons. The Saints have been busy with additions Friday, having just signed kicker Aldrick Rosas as well.

The Cowboys turned to Heath as a starter from 2017-19, and the former UDFA caught on with the Raiders in free agency last year. With Las Vegas, Heath was a part-time starter. But he intercepted three passes. For his career, the eight-year veteran has 11 picks and has made 59 starts.

Pro Football Focus viewed Heath’s 2020 season fondly, slotting him as a top-20 safety. Nevertheless, the Raiders cut bait halfway through Heath’s two-year deal, releasing him shortly after the draft.

The Saints are bringing back their safety tandem from 2020 — Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins — and used some deft cap maneuvering to find room for Williams’ franchise tag. Heath stands to provide insurance behind New Orleans’ starters.

Saints To Sign K Aldrick Rosas

August 20th, 2021 at 3:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints’ most recent run without a healthy kicker will come to an end. They are signing Aldrick Rosas, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (via Twitter).

Rosas’ workout went well, per NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill (on Twitter), and the former Pro Bowler edged out fellow prospective Wil Lutz replacements Alex Kessman and Dominik Eberle. Neither Kessman nor Eberle had kicked in an NFL game previously. Rosas has four years’ experience, though he has not had a regular gig in two years.

Lutz is expected to be out for months, and the Saints’ Brett Maher partnership ended after he suffered an injury during the team’s preseason opener. The team waived Maher with an injury designation. New Orleans will now pivot to Rosas, who made the Pro Bowl in 2018 but is coming off a season abbreviated by a suspension.

The Giants’ kicker from 2017-19, Rosas saw a hit-and-run arrest lead to his New York exit. The NFL suspended Rosas four games to start last season, and although he landed with the Jaguars and kicked in six games with the struggling team, he did not make it to camp under the new Urban Meyer regime.

Rosas received his Pro Bowl nod after making 32 of 33 field goals in his second season, but he has not quite approached that success in any of his other three slates. The 26-year-old specialist made 12 of 17 field goals in 2019 and went 8-for-11 in six Jags games last year. The opportunity to kick for a dome team could move Rosas back on track, however, while giving the Saints some stability. Lutz has kicked in every Saints regular-season game for the past five years. He is signed through the 2023 season.

To make room on their roster, the Saints waived tight end Josh Pederson. The aspiring NFL pass catcher is the son of former Eagles HC Doug Pederson.

Saints Working Out K Aldrick Rosas

August 19th, 2021 at 3:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Having included Brett Maher in their recent cuts, the Saints continue to search for Wil Lutz replacement options. They are working out a former Pro Bowler.

Aldrick Rosas auditioned for the Saints on Thursday, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (via Twitter). A 2018 Pro Bowler with the Giants, Rosas has been unattached since the Jaguars cut him late last month. The Saints also worked out kickers Alex Kessman and Dominik Eberle.

Rosas, 26, is the only one of these three with NFL experience. Kessman kicked at Pitt, while Eberle played at Utah State.

The Giants placed a second-round RFA tender on Rosas last year but cut him soon after the young specialist was arrested following a hit-and-run incident. After serving a four-game suspension, Rosas landed in Jacksonville and kicked in six Jags games. The Southern Oregon product’s 2018 season, when he made 97% of his field goal tries (32-for-33), has thus far been an aberration. Rosas did not clear the 73% barrier in his other three seasons.

The Saints signed Maher last week but waived him days later; Maher sustained an injury in the Saints’ first preseason game. Lutz is expected to miss extensive time due to a groin injury, forcing New Orleans to search for a kicker for the first time in five years.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/21

August 18th, 2021 at 4:56pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: K Lirim Hajrullahu

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Samuel Eguavoen; Eguavoen tested positive for the coronavirus

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Claimed (from Steelers): OT Brandon Walton
  • Waived/injured: S Raven Greene

Saints To Sign WR Kevin White

August 17th, 2021 at 4:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after the 49ers cut Kevin White, the former top-10 pick found a new home. The Saints are signing the veteran wide receiver, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

White participated in a Saints workout Tuesday, joining fellow wideouts Bennie Fowler, Devin White and Malachi Dupre. Reeling at wide receiver, New Orleans will give White another opportunity.

The West Virginia product played in three 49ers games last season but has not made a regular-season reception since 2018. White, 28, battled injuries throughout his Bears tenure and later caught on with the Cardinals and 49ers. San Francisco cut White last week. Despite their injury issues at wideout, the Saints will give one of the NFL’s most injury-prone players a chance to help fill this void.

New Orleans is expected to be without Michael Thomas for months, and would-be starter Tre’Quan Smith just returned to practice Tuesday after missing two weeks due to a leg injury. The Saints released Emmanuel Sanders this offseason and did not heavily address the receiver position in the draft, which has helped put former UDFA Marquez Callaway in a strong position to contribute this season.

Saints Cut Prince Amukamara

August 16th, 2021 at 8:25am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have released cornerback Prince Amukamara, as ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett tweets. The cornerback joins defensive end Noah Spence and a handful of other ex-Saints in free agency. 

Amukamara was the No. 19 overall pick in 2011 but he’s been inconsistent throughout his career. He was originally drafted by the Giants and won Super Bowl XLVI with the team as a rookie. After five up-and-down years, he moved on to the Jaguars and the Bears. He spent three years as a full-time starter in Chicago and earned a $27MM extension along the way, but didn’t make it to the end of the deal.

The corner spent 2020 with the Cardinals’ practice squad last year but didn’t appear in a game. The Saints gave him a shot a few weeks ago, but he didn’t quite impress on the practice field. Now, the Saints will continue to look for cornerback help with a possible suspension looming for star Marshon Lattimore.

The Saints may pursue Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson in the coming days. But, for now, they’re banking on third-round corner Paulson Adebo, slot corner Brian Poole, and Lattimore’s continued availability.

Sean Payton: Saints Likely To Add CB Help

August 15th, 2021 at 7:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Patrick Robinson did not play a big role with the Saints upon returning to the team that drafted him, the since-retired cornerback was receiving extensive work in training camp and on track to play a big role. Robinson’s retirement has left the Saints even thinner at cornerback.

Marshon Lattimore faces a possible suspension for his March arrest. That prospect would leave New Orleans extremely vulnerable at corner. Sean Payton said in April cornerback was a position the team must upgrade. Following Robinson’s retirement nearly four months later, Payton called corner a “must” position and said a notable acquisition at this spot will likely take place ahead of the season.

“Yeah, we’re paying close attention to that,” Payton said of cornerbacks potentially available (via ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano). “And I would say there’s a good chance for us maybe that player may or may not be in the building right now.”

Certainly not shy about taking big swings in trades, the Saints are believed to be one of the teams interested in Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson. New Orleans tried to trade up for Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II in the first round but could not find a team willing to accept its offer to move into the top 10. The team did draft Stanford’s Paulson Adebo in Round 3, but after releasing previous starter Janoris Jenkins and seeing Robinson retire, the Saints are light on proven options opposite Lattimore.

The Saints signed slot corner Brian Poole and Prince Amukamara, but the veteran boundary defender did not play last season. Prior to Richard Sherman‘s arrest last month, the Saints were linked to the outside corner in free agency. Sherman remains available, though the 33-year-old defender faces legal issues presently. Josh Norman, Dre Kirkpatrick and now Quinton Dunbar are also available. The Saints met with Kirkpatrick in June.

Saints To Cut DE Noah Spence

August 15th, 2021 at 6:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

A 2021 rule tweak will force teams to cut down to 85 players by Tuesday, and the Saints included a former second-round pick in their first group of cuts. They intend to release defensive end Noah Spence, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football (on Twitter).

Despite Spence tearing his ACL in 2020, the Saints brought him back on a one-year deal worth the league minimum. The former Buccaneers second-rounder, however, could not make enough of an impression to stick with the Saints beyond the first cutdown day.

This marks another setback for Spence, who has been a preseason cut previously. The Bucs jettisoned him in August 2019, and while Spence found his way to Washington later that year, he wound up being waived by the NFC East franchise as well. The Saints scooped him up in March 2020, but the ACL tear marred any game action.

An Ohio State cog who transferred to Eastern Kentucky, Spence flashed as a Bucs rookie by registering 5.5 sacks. In 18 games from 2017-18, however, the pass rusher combined for just one. New Orleans did not include any fully guaranteed money in Spence’s latest deal.

The Saints are also waiving running back Stevie Scott, Underhill tweets. The Indiana product caught on with the team as a rookie UDFA but will now head to the waiver wire.

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