The Mew Orleans Saints filed a series of last-minute roster moves ahead of Saturday’s kickoff with the Cleveland Browns, signing wide receiver Kirk Merritt to their active roster from the practice squad, replacing veteran slot receiver Jarvis Landry after he went to injured reserve, while also bringing up wide receiver Keith Kirkwood and backup offensive lineman Josh Andrews as single-game elevations (meaning they’ll both revert to the practice squad after this game).
It makes sense to reload on receivers after losing Landry to injured reserve and ruling out Chris Olave with a hamstring issue that kept him out of practice all week. Merritt and Kirkwood should both have roles to play behind Rashid Shaheed, Marquez Callaway, and Tre’Quan Smith, but don’t look for many passes from Andy Dalton with the Saints and Browns playing during hazardous winter conditions. With wind and snow in the forecast, each squad should lean on its run game rather than look to throw all over the yard. That helps explain Andrews’ elevation as a backup center and guard, but it’s also worth noting the Saints lost right guard Cesar Ruiz to a Lisfranc injury this week and left guard Andrus Peat is questionable to play due to an illness.
So while some players will be healthy inactives this week, the Saints are going to again be without some key contributors due to injuries and illnesses. That includes standout rookie receiver Chris Olave and breakout linebacker Pete Werner, both managing hamstring injuries, and it’s unclear whether star cornerback Marshon Lattimore (abdomen) will be able to play this week. Here’s this week’s Saints roster: