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New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

Saints’ Sheldon Rankins To Debut This Week?

November 3rd, 2016 at 9:52am CST by Zachary Links

Finally, we could be on the verge of seeing Sheldon Rankins‘ NFL debut. Saints coach Sean Payton tells reporters that he anticipates Rankins playing this week, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Sheldon Rankins (vertical)

Rankins, the Saints’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, has yet to take the field after suffering a broken fibula in the summer. Initially, the word was that Rankins would be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks starting in late August. However, the Saints played it safe with the young defensive lineman, pushing his debut off until November.

As a senior at Louisville, Rankins totaled 58 tackles with 13 sacks for a loss and six sacks. The No. 12 overall pick was a popular choice in Defensive Rookie of the Year predictions and while he may not have enough time to win the award this year, he could have a major impact on New Orleans’ D-Line. So far this year, New Orleans has given up the fifth-most yards per game (397.4) to opposing offenses.

Saints Inquired On Joe Haden

November 1st, 2016 at 8:30pm CST by Ben Levine

With the NFL’s trade deadline behind us, it’s time to focus on the deals that weren’t made. According to ESPN’s Ed Werder (via Twitter), the Saints “made [a] play” for Browns cornerback Joe Haden before the deadline. However, the organization ultimately determined that the asking price was too high for the two-time Pro Bowler. Joe Haden In a follow up tweet, Werder says the Saints were simply doing their due diligence on Haden. The player’s salary and injury history ultimately limited the team’s interest.

Haden certainly would have helped a struggling Saints defense. The team’s secondary has allowed the 12th-most passing yards in the league, and it’s worth noting that the majority of the team’s “behind” the Saints in the rankings have yet to have their bye week. While the secondary has allowed a modest nine passing touchdowns this season, they’ve only collected three interceptions while allowing 30.7 points per game, which is good for the second worst mark in the league.

Haden would have been a notable addition to the defense. The 27-year-old has played five games this season, compiling 21 tackles, nine passed defended, and a pair of interceptions. Haden only ranks 29th in Pro Football Focus’ cornerback ratings (subscription required), but the former first-rounder would still be a considerable upgrade over the Saints current defensive backs. Delvin Breaux and Sterling Moore are currently battling injuries, forcing the Saints to rely on journeyman B.W. Webb and undrafted free agent Ken Crawley.

Practice Squad Updates: 11/1/16

November 1st, 2016 at 6:53pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

San Diego Chargers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/27/16

October 27th, 2016 at 5:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad moves:

Buffalo Bills

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

New Orleans Saints

Anthony's Step Back Weakens Saints' Graham Haul

October 26th, 2016 at 5:58pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • As the Saints get set to face Seattle, Nick Underhill of The Advocate revisits the Jimmy Graham trade. Graham, of course, was Drew Brees’ favorite aerial weapon and an integral part of the offense. However, since the deal, the Saints have managed to score on a league-best 79.17% of their trips to the red zone. At the same time, this offseason’s Coby Fleener signing appears to be a bust so far. After being given a five-year, $36MM contract, Fleener has caught just 21 passes for 281 yards. It’s also worth noting that linebacker Stephone Anthony, taken with the first-round pick received in the deal, hasn’t quite panned out as the team hoped he would.
  • Anthony’s struggles and Graham becoming a focal point in the Seahawks’ offense puts the March 2015 exchange without a clear winner at this point after it appeared the Saints came out ahead here, Larry Holder of NOLA.com writes. Anthony’s been demoted to the Saints’ second string behind the newly acquired James Laurinaitis. Graham hasn’t rediscovered his New Orleans form but is ahead of his 2015 pace despite returning from a torn patella tendon. The seventh-year tight end has 27 receptions for 408 yards after making 48 catches for 605 yards in 11 games last season.

Saints To Sign OL Khalif Barnes

October 26th, 2016 at 9:47am CST by Zachary Links

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before. The Saints are signing Khalif Barnes to the roster, as Herbie Teope of The Times-Picayune tweets. Khalif Barnes (vertical)

Today’s deal marks the fourth time that New Orleans has signed Barnes to the roster since Aug. 30. Barnes’ most recent stint on the 53-man roster ended about two weeks ago when the Saints bumped him for Joe Callahan. He’s back now, but if recent history is any indication, he might not be around for long. For his career, the 34-year-old has 151 appearances and 117 starts to his name, but he hasn’t taken the field yet this season.

The Saints freed up a spot for Barnes on Tuesday when they dropped defensive end Chris McCain.

Saints Waive Chris McCain

October 25th, 2016 at 5:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have waived defensive end Chris McCain, reports Herbie Teope of NOLA.com (Twitter link). McCain had just been promoted from the practice squad before Sunday’s game against the Chiefs.Chris McCain (Vertical)

[RELATED: Saints To Bring Sheldon Rankins Back From IR]

McCain, 24, is in his NFL third season, but hadn’t contributed much during his first two years in the league. He’s appeared in 20 games, but he’s been more of a special teams player than a defensive stalwart. McCain picked up a sack and a forced fumble in 2015, but only played on 113 total snaps (43 on defense).

Traded to the Saints days before the start of the regular season, McCain was subsequently waived and has bounced on and off New Orleans’ roster. He’s appeared in one game, but hasn’t registered a statistic.

Browns Make Handful Of Moves

October 24th, 2016 at 4:22pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Browns have claimed quarterback Joe Callahan off waivers from the Saints and center Gabe Ikard off waivers from the Bills, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. To make room for those two, the Browns have waived fullback Malcolm Johnson and defensive back Darius Hillary.

Joe Callahan

Callahan, an undrafted rookie from Division III Wesley, will now join his third team this month. The Packers previously cut Callahan on Oct. 13, paving the way for the Saints to add him for what amounted to a short-lived stint in New Orleans. The way things have gone under center this year for Cleveland, he could end up on the field at some point.

Injuries have forced the Browns to shuffle through five quarterbacks, the latest being fifth-round rookie Kevin Hogan. He debuted in the Browns’ 31-17 loss to the Bengals on Sunday after fellow rookie Cody Kessler departed with a concussion. Kessler is currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol, meaning it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to play against the Jets on Sunday. Josh McCown, who has missed most of the season with a broken collarbone, could return this week. However, if he and Kessler are out, Hogan and Callahan would be the Browns’ top two signal-callers.

Johnson, whom the Browns chose in the sixth round of last year’s draft, was active for their first seven games this season and picked up one start. He also notched five receptions.

Saints Cut Recent Waiver Claim Joe Callahan

October 22nd, 2016 at 4:38pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • The Saints became the latest team to waive quarterback Joe Callahan. New Orleans jettisoned the 23-year-old signal-caller and signed linebacker Chris McCain from its practice squad, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Callahan has a path back to the Saints, with the team wanting him back, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). But the Packers did as well and saw the Saints claim him before he could pass to their practice squad, so Callahan landing somewhere soon seems likely.

Saints Bringing Sheldon Rankins Back From IR

October 19th, 2016 at 9:04am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are designating Sheldon Rankins as their player to return off of injured reserve this season, coach Sean Payton told reporters (Twitter link via Mike Triplett of ESPN.com). Rankins, a first-round pick in the spring, was placed on IR in August when he suffered a broken fibula. Sheldon Rankins (vertical)

Prior to the injury, Rankins was expected to compete with Nick Fairley, Tyeler Davison, and John Jenkins. Instead, the Louisville product has been busy rehabbing. Now, he is finally getting closer to making his NFL debut. When the Saints bring Rankins off of IR, that will open up a 21-day practice window in which they can evaluate him. If he is not activated within those three weeks, he can not be brought back this year. Rankins is expected to being practicing today.

After topping the Panthers 41-38 over the weekend, the Saints will travel to Kansas City this week to take on the Chiefs.

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