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Practice Squad Updates: 12/19/18

December 19th, 2018 at 4:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

Saints Work Out Offensive Linemen

December 18th, 2018 at 12:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are worked out a handful of offensive linemen on Tuesday, according to a league source who spoke with Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune. It stands to reason that the Saints will sign at least one lineman given the injuries suffered by center Max Unger and Jermon Bushrod on Monday night.

Unger was forced out of Monday’s win over the Panthers with a concussion and Bushrod’s hamstring injury landed him on the sidelines. After that, the Saints were forced to turn to Cameron Tom and Will Clapp to fill in the front five. The Saints were pretty much scraping the bottom of the barrel against their divisional rivals, especially since they were already without left tackle Terron Armstead, who has been out for five straight games.

Offensive tackle Nick Becton, who was in camp with the Saints in 2014 and 2015, was among those to audition. The other players are not yet known, but they’re unlikely to be major names. At this point in the season, it’s slim pickins.

The Saints effectively clinched a first-round bye by beating the Panthers on Monday night, but they may need the additional bodies to get through the final two weeks of the season and fortify their bench for the playoffs.

Armstead Out Another Week

December 15th, 2018 at 8:34pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg
  • The Saints will be without starting left tackle Terron Armstead for at least another week, according to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com (Twitter link). Armstead has now missed the last month of the season with a pectoral injury. Drew Brees‘ pass protection has fallen off without Armstead, and Brees has struggled a bit with the additional pressure in recent weeks.

Saints Sign WR Simmie Cobbs

December 14th, 2018 at 1:25pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints signed wide receiver Simmie Cobbs off of the Redskins’ practice squad, a source tells Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter). Cobbs will take the roster spot of tight end Erik Swoope, who was informed of his release on Thursday. 

Cobbs was an all-Big Ten receiver at Indiana and caught 72 passes for 841 yards in 2017. He’s an intriguing pickup for a Saints team that has lost several big-name receivers to injury throughout the year.

For now, Cobbs will slot in as the Saints’ No. 6 receiver behind Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Austin Carr, Keith Kirkwood, and Tommylee Lewis. Earlier this week, veteran Brandon Marshall was dropped from the roster, so there’s room for reinforcements.

The addition of Cobbs could mean that wide receiver Ted Ginn will not be activated from IR before the year is through. Then again, given all of the Saints’ roster juggling in recent days, nothing can be ruled out. Swoope’s stay in New Orleans lasted less than 24 hours and there’s no guarantee that Cobbs will get to take his coat off and stay awhile if Ginn is given the greenlight.

The Saints, who have already clinched the NFC South, can virtually clinch a first round bye with a win over the Panthers on Sunday. A win in Carolina coupled with a Bears loss in Green Bay would completely seal the deal for the Saints, allowing them to rest any banged up players in the final two weeks.

Saints Notes: Marshall, Ginn

December 13th, 2018 at 9:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints cut Brandon Marshall on Wednesday, but head coach Sean Payton says New Orleans could still re-sign the veteran wideout, tweets Nick Underhill of the Advocate. Marshall, 34, has miraculously never made a postseason appearance during 13-year NFL career, but that could change if he ends up back with the Saints. Meanwhile, another mid-30s pass-catcher might be close to returning to the field in New Orleans, as Payton told reporters Ted Ginn Jr. could be nearing activation. Ginn, who underwent knee surgery in October, is reportedly one of two candidates under consideration to be activated from the Saints’ injured reserve list, the other being offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/18

December 13th, 2018 at 6:34pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: G Oni Omoile

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Signed: WR C.J. Board

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: WR Martez Carter

New York Giants

Washington Redskins

  • Signed: OL Roubbens Joseph
  • Placed on injured list: OL Casey Dunn

Saints Release TE Erik Swoope

December 13th, 2018 at 3:51pm CST by Zachary Links

After claiming tight end Erik Swoope off waivers on Wednesday, the Saints are releasing him, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Swoope spent less than 24 hours in New Orleans and he’ll now go straight back on the waiver wire. 

The Saints’ juggling is perplexing, though it could be a sign of a larger move to come. The Saints have been hoping to get wide receiver Ted Ginn back on the field and, if he can’t go, offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus is also a candidate for return.

Help from LeRibeus, who appeared in all 16 games last season, would be nice, but Ginn would probably be more of a difference-maker. Last year, Ginn turned in one of his better offensive seasons with 53 catches for 787 yards and four scores. He can also aid in the return game, where he has thrived in the past.

Swoope, meanwhile, could easily wind up back with Indianpolis, where he is a beloved locker room presence.

NFL Workout Updates: 12/12/18

December 12th, 2018 at 7:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers

Saints Waive WR Brandon Marshall

December 12th, 2018 at 3:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have released wide receiver Brandon Marshall, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move will create room for tight end Erik Swoope, who has been claimed off waivers from the Colts (Twitter link via Mike Florio of PFT). 

It was a short stay in New Orleans for Marshall, who was signed in November when Dez Bryant tore his Achilles just hours after inking his contract. Despite spending a full month with the team, Marshall never saw the field. Instead, he was used as a scout team receiver and was unable to leapfrog the team’s top five of Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Austin Carr, Keith Kirkwood, and Tommylee Lewis.

The fact that Marshall could not crack the rotation in spite of injuries to Bryant, Cameron Meredith, and Ted Ginn Jr. probably doesn’t bode well for his NFL future. The transaction could also be a sign that Ginn still has a chance to return from IR this year, but there’s no word on that front just yet.

Marshall is a six-time Pro Bowler, but he hasn’t played at an elite level since the 2015 season in which he posted 109 receptions, 1,502 yards, and a league-leading 14 touchdowns for the Jets. Injuries have limited his effectiveness and overall production, and it’s fair to wonder if this will mark his last stop in the league.

Swoope, meanwhile, joins the club just hours after being discarded by the Colts. He was largely eclipsed by Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle this year, but he still managed three touchdown grabs in 2018. Swoope – for the moment – is one of four TEs on the roster along with Ben Watson, Josh Hill, and Dan Arnold.

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