He’s back: New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen announced Friday that the team will activate defensive end Payton Turner from injured reserve, just in time for Week 18’s regular season finale with the Atlanta Falcons.
Turner, the Saints’ former first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, hasn’t played since Week 1 after dislocated two toes and requiring surgery. A lengthy rehab kept him on the sidelines for most of his third season in the pros, but he’s hoping to make a positive impact on Sunday.
It’s been a frustrating experience for Turner. He enjoyed his best offseason with the Saints and didn’t miss a single practice session throughout training camp, playing as many snaps as his coaches would give him in three preseason games. But his foot caught in the turf at the Caesars Superdome while he was rushing the passer, and all of that positive momentum came to a screeching halt.
Hopefully he can end the year on a high note. This summer, the Saints must choose whether to pick up Turner’s fifth-year option for 2025, and thus far he hasn’t shown enough to warrant it. It’s unlikely he’ll be able to do enough against Atlanta to sway that decision one way or another, but this is his last chance to put some good plays on tape before the end of the year.
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