- Patrick Robinson underwent ankle surgery on Wednesday, ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports. This operation came because the Saints cornerback tore multiple ligaments in his injured ankle, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (on Twitter). The Saints placed their slot corner on IR earlier this week. He is not expected to return this season.
The Saints are promoting running back Dwayne Washington from their practice squad, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
New Orleans won’t see Mark Ingram return from suspension until Week 5, and the club is still searching for a viable backup to lighten the load on starter Alvin Kamara. Through three games, Kamara has handled 81% of the Saints’ running back snaps and 79% of the club’s running back touches. Reserves Mike Gillislee and Jonathan Williams haven’t contributed much, and one could conceivably be cut in order to create a roster spot for Washington.
Washington, 24, was selected by the Lions in the seventh round of the 2016 draft. After appearing in 12 games and toting the ball 90 times (for an unappealing 2.9 yards per carry) during his rookie campaign, Washington’s playing time dropped precipitously in 2017, when he managed only 20 carries in five games. He was released during final cutdowns earlier this month, pushed off Detroit’s roster by the club’s crowded running back depth chart.
Even if Washington doesn’t see much work behind Kamara, he could still help on special teams, as he handled two kickoff returns in each of his two seasons with the Lions. However, the Saints re-signed wideout Brandon Tate earlier this week, and he figures to take on return duties for New Orleans.
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
Miami Dolphins
- DEs Anthony Lanier, Charles Tapper (link)
New Orleans Saints
- DTs Joshua Frazier, Chris Okoye; DEs Frank Herron, Kendal Vickers (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- S Marwin Evans (link)
Today’s practice squad updates:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Jonathon Mincy
- Released: DB John Franklin III
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: G Spencer Drango
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DE Jeremiah Valoaga
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DL Tomasi Laulile
- Released: DT Woodrow Hamilton
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Christian DiLauro, DB Dexter McCoil
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Darrell Daniels
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: CB Jeff Richards
oday’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Chicago Bears
- CBs C.J. Smith, Henre’ Toliver (link)
Houston Texans
- Ss T.J. Green, Jack Tocho (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Miami Dolphins
- G Kofi Amichia; LBs Tre’von Johnson, Emmanuel Smith; Ss Marwin Evans, Stefan McClure (link)
New Orleans Saints
- CBs Demetri Goodson, Prince Charles Iworah (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune)
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DB Robertson Daniel
- Released: DE Myles Humphrey
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Christian Ringo
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Jerome Cunningham
- Released: RB Donnel Pumphrey
New England Patriots
- Signed: S David Jones
- Released: WR Jace Billingsley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Arrion Springs
- Released: QB J.T. Barrett
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Amba Etta-Tawo
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Ryan Delaire
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Azeem Victor
Brandon Tate could not make the Saints’ initial 53-man roster out of training camp, but he’ll be back to try and solidify a spot nearly a month later.
The Saints are re-signing the 10th-year veteran, Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com tweets.
Tate worked out for the Patriots, one of his former employers, recently but did not land a deal. He’ll return to the Saints, who placed wide receiver/return man Tommylee Lewis on IR last week.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old has worked as a full-time return specialist in every season this decade and has not been limited to one-role duty on those units, either. After being only the 2010 Pats’ kick-return man, he’s been his team’s kick- and punt-return specialist in each of the past seven seasons.
He served as the Bills’ return man the past two years. Lewis played this role to start the season for New Orleans, which used Alvin Kamara on punt returns and Taysom Hill as the kickoff returner in Week 3.
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Jeremiah Sirles
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DL Caraun Reid
- Placed on IR: DL Datone Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Daeshon Hall (from 49ers’ practice squad)
- Promoted from practice squad: OT David Sharpe
- Placed on IR: LB Dylan Cole, WR Bruce Ellington
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Justin Jackson
- Released from IR: CB Craig Mager
- Waived: RB Detrez Newsome
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Martrell Spaight
- Placed on IR: DE William Hayes
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Jonathan Woodard
- Waived: WR Tanner McEvoy
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Kenjon Barner
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Arrion Springs
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Garrett Dickerson
- Waived/Injured: WR/KR Kaelin Clay
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Branden Jackson
- Waived: TE Darrell Daniels
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Andrew Adams
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: OL Kevin Pamphile
The Saints’ addition of Patrick Robinson to their IR list prompted them to bring in a host of cornerbacks for Tuesday workouts and will induce them to visit with a higher-profile free agent.
David Amerson will visit New Orleans soon, The Advocate’s Nick Underhill reports. This will come after the Saints met with former Saint Sterling Moore, per Underhill. Moore met with the Bears on Monday.
New Orleans also worked out Josh Robinson, Dexter McDougle and Robert Nelson, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan (Twitter links).
Moore played with the Saints from 2016-17. He started 12 games for the 2016 Saints before serving as a backup for a deeper Saints secondary last season. A four-year veteran, Nelson went to camp with the Saints but did not make their 53-man roster. McDougle had a brief Saints run last season, playing in one game during what’s been a four-year nomadic career.
Amerson has been on the NFL’s workout circuit this month after failing to make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster out of training camp. He was a three-season starter for the Raiders whom Jon Gruden opted to cut this year. Amerson’s already attended two workouts this week, auditioning for the Patriots on Monday and Packers on Tuesday. Green Bay opted to go with the well-traveled Bashaud Breeland instead of adding Amerson.
The Saints are expected to place cornerback Patrick Robinson on injured reserve with a broken ankle, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Saints initially thought Robinson was dealing with a sprain, but further tests uncovered more serious damage. 
It’s not immediately clear whether the injury will rule Robinson out for the year. Per league rules, Robinson can return after spending at least eight weeks on IR, so he could be back in the lineup later this year if he heals up quickly.
The injury will impact the Saints for however long Robinson is out of action. Through three weeks, the Saints have one of the worst-ranked pass defenses in the NFL, and the loss of their top slot man will hurt.
After winning a championship with the Eagles, Robinson inked a four-year deal with the Saints in March. Last year, he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 ranked CB.