New Orleans Saints Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Bengals Place Andre Smith On IR

December 20th, 2017 at 1:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals have placed tackle Andre Smith on injured reserve. In related moves, the Bengals signed fellow tackle Justin Murray off the Saints practice squad. They also signed linebacker Connor Harris to the taxi squad.

Smith, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with Cincinnati after being selected No. 6 overall in the 2009 draft, reunited with the Bengals in the offseason. He signed a one-year deal with the notion that he would be the team’s starting right guard. He lost that competition to Trey Hopkins, but a spot opened up at right tackle when Jake Fisher was shut down for the year with a heart condition.

Even at his native tackle position, Smith didn’t really deliver. Pro Football Focus rates him as just the No. 64 tackle in the league out of 85 qualified players. Smith hasn’t earned a quality score from PFF since 2014, a sign that he has declined in recent years.

The soon-to-be 31-year-old will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in January. He’s lost a step or three, but his experience and versatility could allow him to find work in 2018.

Saints Place LB A.J. Klein On IR

December 19th, 2017 at 5:19pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints will be without one of their starting linebackers down the stretch and into the playoffs, as the club announced they’ve placed A.J. Klein on injured reserve. In a corresponding move, New Orleans has signed tight end John Phillips.

Klein, 26, inked a three-year, $15MM with the Saints this offseason, staying in the NFC South after four seasons with the Panthers. While the New Orleans defense has experienced a remarkable turnaround in 2017, Klein hasn’t necessarily been a large part of that effort despite playing roughly three quarters of the club’s defensive snaps. The Saints are still just 23rd in rush defense DVOA, while Klein himself has graded as only the No. 82 linebacker among 92 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

While the loss of Klein will certainly lead to adjustments along the Saints’ front seven, the team does possess an ample amount of linebacker depth. Veterans such as Manti Te’o, Gerald Hodges, and the recently-signed Jonathan Freeny are all candidates to join the starting lineup opposite Craig Robertson.

Phillips, meanwhile, is now back in New Orleans after appearing in eight games for the club a season ago. An effective blocker but not much of an offensive weapon, the 30-year-old Phillips was with the Saints during training camp before being waived off injured reserve in September.

Saints Work Out Josh Huff

December 19th, 2017 at 10:59am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are taking a look at Josh Huff. The wide receiver auditioned for the Saints on Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).

Huff was one of several Oregon products to wind up on Chip Kelly‘s Eagles. The third-round pick in the 2014 draft flashed some potential, but he was out of a job in ’16 when he was pulled over for speeding and found with a firearm and marijuana. He hooked on with the Bucs, but only appeared in three games and wound up missing this season’s initial 53-man cut.

After being displaced by Tampa Bay, Huff’s first known audition came with the Saints in September. Later, he showed his stuff for the Jets, Texans, and Redskins (twice), but has yet to land a deal. Perhaps on this audition – his second with New Orleans in 2017 – he’ll find a new NFL home.

Statistically, Huff’s best season came in 2015 when he had 27 grabs for 312 yards and three scores. He gave the Saints an up close look at his potential in October of that season when he had four receptions for 78 yards, including a 41-yard TD in the first half.

At 10-4, the Saints are in the catbird seat in the NFC South. They can help secure the divisional crown with wins over the Falcons and Bucs in the final two weeks.

Saints Injury Notes

December 17th, 2017 at 9:36pm CST by GregGoldstein

The Saints lost a few players to injury during their win over the Jets on Sunday afternoon. Guard Larry Warford and tight end Michael Hoomanawanui both were forced to leave the game with concussions, according to Joel Erickson of The New Orleans Advocate. Erickson adds that guard Andrus Peat was also active to start the contest, but was held out because of a groin injury. He was available in an emergency role, with backup guards Senio Kelemete and Josh LeRibeus taken the starting sports when both starting offensive lineman were unable to play. Hopefully all three players will recover fully for the team’s critical Week 16 affair against the Falcons. The game will have major implications to who ultimately will win the ultra-competitive NFC South.

Saints Claim LB Jonathan Freeny

December 14th, 2017 at 3:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have claimed linebacker Jonathan Freeny off of waivers from the Patriots, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. To make room, cornerback Sterling Moore has been released.

The Patriots released Freeny on Wednesday as part of a series of roster moves that included the signing of Kenny Britt and defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois. His 2017 return to New England lasted only one week. Freeny will provide the Saints with some depth in their injury-ravaged front seven. Recently, Alex Okafor became the latest addition to the reserve list, joining Nathan Stupar, Alex Anzalone, Mitchell Loewen, and Nick Fairley.

Moore was cut by the Saints in October but circled back to the team in November. All in all, he appeared in five games for New Orleans with five tackles, two passes defensed, and one forced fumble. If he clears waivers, he’ll be free to sign with any team on Friday.

Alex Okafor Wants To Re-Sign With Saints

December 13th, 2017 at 8:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Defensive end Alex Okafor would like to re-sign with the Saints following a 2017 season that was shortened by injury, as he explains to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com. Okafor, 26, inked one of the better one-year deals of the season, a $2MM pact that will allow him to hit free agency again in 2018. Before going down with a torn Achilles, Okafor had more than lived up to his contract, excelling against the run while also managing 4.5 sacks. He’d been a key contributor as New Orleans’ defense surprisingly improved from its awful 2016 standing.

Saints To Sign DE George Johnson

December 12th, 2017 at 4:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are signing defensive end George Johnson, who recently worked out for them, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). To make room, offensive tackle Bryce Harris has been released.

Johnson will help fill the void after rookie defensive end Trey Hendrickson went down with an ankle injury. He’s probably not in line for a ton of playing time, but he’ll be an option to relieve defensive linemen Sheldon Rankins, David Onyemata, and Hau’oli Kikaha.

The 30-year-old Johnson put himself on the NFL map with a six-sack season for the Lions in 2014. Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, he wasn’t quite as sharp in 2015 when he came on board. He then lost the following season to a hip fracture. He reunited with Detroit this year, but he totaled just two tackles in four appearances.

Saints Rookie DE Out Multiple Weeks

December 9th, 2017 at 8:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rookie Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson is expected to miss multiple weeks due to an ankle injury sustained against the Falcons, Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets. A third-round pick, Hendrickson has played in 12 games for the Saints this season as a backup.

Saints A Fit For Baker Mayfield?

December 9th, 2017 at 7:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com polled five NFL execs regarding Mayfield’s best destination and didn’t get one definitive answer. While some quarterback-needy teams came up, two decision-makers mentioned the Saints and Chargers as Mayfield fits. Both suggest multiyear apprenticeships behind Brees and Philip Rivers. However, a source told Matt Miller of Bleacher Report Rivers’ resurgence has “basically shut down” the prospect of the Bolts making a quarterback-of-the-future pick in the upcoming first round. Rivers turned 36 on Friday.