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The New Orleans Saints began releasing players from their 90-man roster ahead of the NFL’s new Aug. 16 deadline to trim depth charts down to just 80 players, starting about an hour after our updated list of Saints players by jersey number went live (of course).
Teams will be allowed to hold small-group practice sessions without pads for the first few weeks of training camp, though work is largely limited to strength and conditioning drills due to the NFL’s rules and protocols during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. That gives them an opportunity to try out some things with newcomers, but not much.
So far, the released players are a mix of veterans who already have some game film to refer to and rookies who didn’t have much of a chance of making the team. Check back often for updates as the Saints continue to winnow down their roster:
- WR Krishawn Hogan, via Amie Just of The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate. Hogan logged 83 snaps in eight games with the Saints last year after starting out on the practice squad, doing most of his work as a blocker. He caught his lone target to gain four yards before ending the season on injured reserve. He’s more of a known quantity than many of the receivers on the roster, so this could be a way for the Saints to give others a shot in practice.
- CB Deatrick Nichols, via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Nichols signed with the Saints after the XFL dissolved earlier this year; he led the upstart professional football league with three interceptions as a member of the Houston Roughnecks, and seemed ready to compete for a roster spot as a contributor on special teams and in slot coverage. The Saints may feel his XFL game tape is enough to help them decide whether to bring him back later this year.
- FB Ricky Ortiz, via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Ortiz was a late addition to the Saints practice squad in 2019, suiting up for the regular season finale and their playoffs loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He ultimately played just 20 snaps on offense between those two appearances, catching one pass to gain eight yards. His release is a clear sign that veteran fullback Michael Burton won’t be challenged to start for the Saints.
- DL Gus Cumberlander, via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The big undrafted rookie out of Oregon fits the same height-weight profile as free agent pickup Margus Hunt, making him somewhat redundant with a cuts deadline on the horizon. A long shot to catch on with the Saints, Cumberlander should get an opportunity with another team as players around the league continue to opt out of the 2020 season.
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