- Former LSU linebacker Lamar Louis recently visited the Saints, according to Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter).
- The Saints have released cornerback Tony Carter from IR, tweets Nick Underhill of the Advocate.
Tuesday’s practice squad transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB/KR Asa Jackson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Darius Hillary, WR Jordan Leslie
- Cut: E.J. Bibbs
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Quentin Gause, TE Steven Scheu (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post)
- Cut: WR Mose Frazier, LB Richard Cliett
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Marcus Leak, CB Frankie Williams
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Jamil Douglas (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
- Cut: OL Ian Silberman
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DL Royce LaFrance (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The Advocate)
New York Giants
- Signed: LS Tyler Ott
- Cut: DB Doran Grant
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Don Cherry
- Cut: G Darrell Greene
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR DeAndre Smelter
- Cut: WR Dres Anderson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Justin Hamilton (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
- Cut: DE Sterling Bailey
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Russell Hansbrough (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
The Saints announced that they have promoted wide receiver Jake Lampman. To make room on the roster, the team has waived tight end Chris Manhertz. 
Lampman, 23, joined the Saints as a UDFA out of Ferris State this offseason. When he didn’t make the team’s final cut, he signed on with the practice squad. In his final collegiate season, the wide receiver hauled in 52 passes for 731 yards and eight touchdowns.
Manhertz became expendable this week when Josh Hill returned to practice after dealing with a high ankle sprain. Manhertz was on the field for 43 snaps this year while Hill was sidelined but drew zero targets.
The Saints have claimed quarterback Joe Callahan off waivers from the Packers, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. In a corresponding move, the Saints have released offensive lineman Khalif Barnes, according to Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link).
The Packers cut Callahan on Thursday, but their hope was that the rookie would pass through waivers and end up on their practice squad. He’ll instead head to New Orleans, which has two quarterbacks on its roster – Drew Brees and Luke McCown – and Garrett Grayson on its taxi squad. Callahan, a former standout at Division III Wesley College, joined the Pack as an undrafted free agent this year. Thanks to an excellent preseason, he unexpectedly cracked Green Bay’s 53-man roster, though his stay only lasted five weeks.
As for Barnes, the Saints have shuffled him on and off their roster since August. The former Jaguar and Raider has 151 appearances and 117 starts to his name, but he hasn’t yet seen action this year.
The Saints will officially place safety Erik Harris on injured reserve today, according to Nick Underhill of The Advocate. Meanwhile, Brian Dixon will be promoted to the 53-man roster. It was reported earlier this week that Harris would be shut down for the season. 
Harris’ primary role was on special teams and Dixon will be used to fill that void. Dixon, who appeared in every regular season game for New Orleans in 2014 and 2015, has 31 total tackles and two forced fumbles to his credit. The Northwest Missouri State product was in uniform against the Chargers but was later released and signed to the practice squad.
To fill Dixon’s spot on the taxi squad, linebacker Chris McCain has been signed. The Saints acquired McCain in a trade with the Dolphins in exchange for a conditional pick this offseason but he was cut days later. McCain, 25 in November, picked up a sack and a forced fumble in 2015, but only played on 113 total snaps (43 on defense).
Saints safety and special teams maven Erik Harris underwent ACL surgery today and will be out for the remainder of the year, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Devastatingly, Harris suffered the torn ACL — and meniscus — while intercepting Drew Brees in practice on Monday.
[RELATED: Saints Work Out Bjoern Werner]
Harris, 26, was in the midst of his first NFL season, as he spent 2013-2015 in the CFL playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The California University (Pa.) alum signed a futures deal with New Orleans earlier this year, and ended up making the club’s initial roster. Through four games, Harris had only played two defensive snaps, but managed to see action on 82.5% of the Saints’ special teams snaps.
With Harris sidelined, Rapoport tossed out fellow safety Alden Darby, who was with the Saints during training camp, as a possible option to be signed in the coming days. Darby was waived/injured by New Orleans in August, and went on to spend a few days on the Colts’ roster.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
The Saints auditioned a crop of front seven players today, including one — former first-round pick Bjoern Werner — that was already reported earlier today. The full list is below, all courtesy of Mike Triplett and Field Yates of ESPN.com unless otherwise noted:
- Derek Akunne, LB
- Wes Horton, DE
- Royce LaFrance, DE
- Danny Lansanah, LB
- John Lotulelei, LB
- Dezman Moses, LB
- Andy Mulumba, DE/LB (Twitter link via Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayune)
- Shaquille Riddick, LB
- Greg Townsend Jr., DE (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The Advocate)
Lansanah, 31, had spent the last two seasons and change with Tampa Bay before spending a week with the Dolphins in August. Over the last two years, Lansanah appeared in every regular season game for the Bucs, making 22 total starts. In 2014, Lansanah recorded three interceptions, eight pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, and 81 total tackles. His production tailed off last season, though he still notched 47 tackles, one sack, and four pass breakups.
Horton, Lotulelei, Moses, and Mulamba also have prior NFL experience, and Moses leads the pack, as he’s appeared in 45 games with the Packers and Chiefs (mostly on special teams duty). Horton, meanwhile, started 15 games for the Panthers as recently as 2014.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
The Saints worked out defensive end Bjoern Werner, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s not immediately clear if the team is thinking about signing the former first-round pick right now or if he is simply being kept in mind for injuries down the road. 
Werner, 26, appeared in 38 games for the Colts from 2013-2015, including 16 starts. In that time, the Florida State alum registered 77 tackles (61 solo), 6.5 sacks, five passes defensed, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. However, the majority of Werner’s production came in his first two years in the league — in 2015, he appeared in 10 games and picked up just 11 total tackles and one fumble recovery.
Following the 2015 season, Werner was cut by Indianapolis. This past spring, he hooked on with the Jaguars, but he was released in late August. Last month, he auditioned for the Lions, but that workout did not lead to a deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Marcel Jensen, WR Darius Jennings
- Placed on practice squad injured list: TE Rory Anderson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Mitch Matthews (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Brian Dixon (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The Advocate)