Saints Injury Notes
- 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
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
- 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
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
- 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?
- 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.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/8/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Arizona Cardinals
- S Cedric Thompson (link)
Chicago Bears
- S K.J. Dillon (link)
Cincinnati Bengals
- LBs Ben Boulware, Connor Harris; Ss Lorenzo Jerome, Robenson Therezie (link)
Denver Broncos
- S K.J. Dillon (link via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post)
Houston Texans
- TE Steve Donatell (link)
Minnesota Vikings
- WRs Darel Walker, Brandon Zylstra; DE Craig Roh; DBs Jonathon Mincy, Kacy Rodgers (link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press)
New Orleans Saints
- DE Joby Saint Fleur; LB Vontarrius Dora (link)
New York Jets
- RB Roy Finch (link)
Saints’ David Parry Suspended By NFL
Saints defensive tackle David Parry has been suspended by the NFL for four games, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Parry has been on IR since Week 4, but the suspension goes into effect immediately. The ban stems from his February incident/arrest, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
The ban actually began with last nights New Orleans contest, tweets Nick Underhill of the Advocate. As such, Parry will serve the entirety of the suspension in 2017, and won’t have to worry about the punishment slipping into next season.
In the winter, Parry was alleged to have attacked a taxi cart driver, car(t)jacked said vehicle, and threatened police officers. At one point in time, Parry was facing jail time with four charges against him. One of the charges was for committing a “Super Extreme” DUI in the state of Arizona, since he operated the cart with a high blood alcohol level.
Parry started 32 games for the Colts as a nose tackle in Indianapolis’ 3-4 scheme, but few teams were interested in him after his booze-fueled incident. He signed with the Saints’ practice squad in early September and earned a promotion to the main roster weeks later, but he suffered a season-ending injury in his first game back.
Alvin Kamara Suffers Concussion
One of the top drivers of the Saints’ resurgence, Alvin Kamara will not return to his team’s pivotal game Thursday night. The rookie running back suffered a concussion, Joel Erickson of The Advocate tweets.
Kamara left the game in the first quarter after a hit from Deion Jones and went to the locker room. He’s in concussion protocol and will now begin taking the steps to return to the field in time for New Orleans’ Week 15 game.
The frontrunner for offensive rookie of the year, Kamara has been a revelation for the Saints. The third-round pick, once Adrian Peterson was removed from the mix, has teamed with Mark Ingram to revitalize the Saints’ ground game. Kamara already had 1,220 yards from scrimmage coming into the game in Atlanta, pairing that with 11 touchdowns.
The Saints also have Trey Edmunds and Jonathan Williams on their 53-man roster, but Williams was inactive for Thursday’s game. The Jets will face the Saints in New Orleans in Week 15. That game is set for Sunday, December 17, giving Kamara a 10-day window to potentially recover in time.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/5/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Buffalo Bills
- RB Roy Finch; S Duke Ihenacho (link via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM); DB William Likely (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Denver Broncos
- QB Mitch Leidner (link via Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN); G Tre’ Jackson (link via Caplan); P Brock Miller (link)
Detroit Lions
- TE Ryan O’Malley (link via Caplan)
Green Bay Packers
- DT Stefan Charles; LB Max Valles (link via Caplan)
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Jevoni Robinson; CBs Randall Evans, Demontre Hurst, Dexter McDougle, David Rivers (Twitter links)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Matt Hazel; CBs Dexter McDougle, Cody Riggs (Twitter links)
New Orleans Saints
- LB Davis Tull (link via Nick Underhill of the Advocate)
Washington Redskins
- QB Stephen Morris; WRs Josh Huff, Daniel Williams; TEs Chris Bazile, Kent Taylor; Ts Josh James, Jeremiah Poutasi; DL Montori Hughes; LBs Carl Bradford, Cassanova McKinzy; CBs Senquez Golson, Jarnor Jones; S Rickey Jefferson, Jadar Johnson, Dean Marlowe; LSs Andrew East, Jeff Overbaugh (all Twitter links)