The Saints tight ends have stepped up after injuries decimated the wide receiver corps. It’s a positive trend from Darren Rizzi’s time as interim head coach:
#Saints tight ends are averaging 105.7 yards receiving over the last three games.
The promotion of Darren Rizzi to interim head coach has had its ups and downs, but ultimately the New Orleans Saints are 3-1 and the team has been able to close out most of their games. And that’s happened despite some real adversity challenging them.
With the injury to Chris Olave and previous injuries to Bub Means and Rashid Shaheed, the offense has had to find a variety of ways to succeed in the passing game, and in the last four games, that has meant heavy involvement of the tight ends in the receiving game. Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, and even Dallin Holker have each stepped into larger roles offensively.
Since Rizzi has taken over, here are the receiving stat lines for the tight ends in each game (including Taysom Hill):
Vs. Atlanta Falcons: 4 receptions on 7 targets for 58 yards
Vs. Cleveland Browns: 14 receptions on 17 targets for 130 yards and 1 touchdown
Vs. Los Angeles Rams: 12 receptions on 18 targets for 79 yards
At New York Giants: 7 receptions on 8 targets for 100 yards and 1 touchdown
The average over this span is approximately 9 receptions on 12 targets for 92 receiving yards and a touchdown every other game. In the last three of those games, two of the top three Saints receivers in yards have been tight ends as well, which was most certainly not the case pre-Rizzi promotion and Olave injury. We will see how things shake out and if this remains the case long-term, but for now they have been the focal point of the receiving game in recent matchups.
New Orleans Saints rookies Dallin Holker and Jaylan Ford are set to make their NFL debut on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles:
The New Orleans Saints have announced their Week 3 inactive list, and for the first time this season it will not include two of their rookies, who will both make their debut against the Philadelphia Eagles. Undrafted free agent Dallin Holker (a tight end from Colorado State) and fifth-round draft pick Jaylan Ford (a linebacker from Texas) have both been activated, and will hopefully get some decent playing time.
Ford had missed most of the summer recovering from a knee injury he sustained in late 2023, before playing in Week 1 of the preseason. He then dealt with a hamstring injury which held him out of the remaining preseason games as well as the first two weeks of the regular season. He will now make his debut alongside a strong linebackers unit with Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Willie Gay Jr., Anfernee Orji, and Isaiah Stalbird also on the game-day roster. Watch out for Ford on special teams.
Holker has had a little different experience, as he was a healthy scratch for the past few weeks due to the logjam at tight end. Taysom Hill, Foster Moreau, and Juwan Johnson were all ahead of him. However, the chest injury to Hill will hold him out for the Week 3 contest, and this has provided Holker with an opening on the active roster to try and make an impact. Look for him to draw some targets and work to climb the depth chart.
It’ll take a group effort for the Saints to replace Taysom Hill if he can’t play against the Eagles. No single player can match his skill set:
All eyes are on Taysom Hill when the New Orleans Saints take the field for pregame warmups at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday. The do-it-all playmaker is dealing with a chest injury that’s left him doubtful to play against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Saints will need a group effort to replace him if he can’t go. No single player can match Hill’s versatile skill set.
Saints fans know it well. Hill can throw, block, run, and catch passes all over the field. He even blocks punts and makes tackles on special teams when asked. But first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has used Hill’s presence to dictate personnel on opposing defenses, and his absence would make it easier for the Eagles to get a read on their intentions.
It isn’t as simple as drafting and developing a backup. They’ve tried that before with players like Tommy Stevens and other teams have tried and failed to copy the strategy. Hill is one-of-one. So who steps up if Hill has to watch this game from the sidelines?
Look for rookie tight end Dallin Holker to make his Saints debut, for one. The former Colorado State standout impressed coaches at training camp over the summer and made the 53-man roster outright, but a minor injury sidelined him for the first two games. If Hill can’t go, Holker makes sense as someone who could dress out in his stead and make some plays as a receiver and blocker inline.
Another name to watch? Fullback Adam Prentice. As ESPN’s Mina Kimes noted earlier this week, Prentice is already up to 50 snaps played through the first two weeks after never logging more than 125 across the last three seasons. He’s the obvious choice to step up as a blocker out of the backfield and occasionally move around like Hill has been asked to do.
But there are things Hill does that no one else on the roster can do. They don’t have another player who can run his signature QB power plays into the teeth of the defense. And his very presence forces the defense to guard them differently, never knowing his assignment or where he could become a problem.
If there’s a silver lining to Hill sitting out this game, it’s that it’s happening in September rather than December or January. This Saints team appears to be playoffs-bound and it’s good for Kubiak to get some work without such an important player early on in case they need to plan without Hill again down the line. We’ll see if he’s able to suit up or not when the inactives report is announced before kickoff.
The New Orleans Saints added even more firepower to their offense in this 2025 mock draft. Michigan tight end Colston Loveland could be a major upgrade:
The New Orleans Saints have gotten off to a hot start in 2024, but we added even more firepower to their offense in this 2025 mock draft.
We used the PFF mock draft simulator and the 2025 draft order determined according to Tankathon (which had the Saints picking at No. 28 overall). And given the options available when the computer put us on the clock, we decided that Michigan tight end Colston Loveland could be a major upgrade.
A tight end could be in the cards for next year’s draft. The Saints would have seriously considered taking former Georgia tight end Brock Bowers had he made it to their pick this year, but they have to be pleased with what Taliese Fuaga has done for them instead.
Let’s take stock of the position. Foster Moreau is a good player but he has some limitations as a receiver. Juwan Johnson has been in and out of the doghouse with the coaching staff and he missed the offseason with a foot injury, which led to a reduced role in Klint Kubiak’s offense. He’s also going to be a free agent in 2025. Dallin Holker is an unproven rookie, and Taysom Hill splits too much time elsewhere to really be considered a tight end.
Which brings us to Loveland. He’s one of the youngest players eligible for the Class of 2025 (he’ll turn 21 a few weeks before the draft) but he’s already played a lot of snaps at a blueblood program. Loveland has run almost as many routes (527) as blocks he’s thrown (546) for the Wolverines, but he’s regarded as a high-upside receiver first and foremost. It’s important for the Saints’ tight ends to block well but so long as he’s willing to improve, they can work with him. It’s worth mentioning that Loveland is currently dealing with a minor injury but it isn’t believed to be a long-term concern.
And there aren’t many guys his size who move as smoothly as he does. Loveland is listed at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds but he’s already caught 80 passes for 1,071 yards in a run-first offense. He’s got nimble feet (averaging a solid 5.4 yards after the catch per reception) and good play strength on contested catches (having won 9 of his 17 targets, per Pro Football Focus charting). He’s the consensus TE1 in this upcoming draft class for good reasons.
So the Saints could have a need at tight end, and he could be available. Derek Carr is playing well enough to keep them from looking at early-round quarterbacks next year. The offensive line is always possibility, especially at left guard, and there’s also a chance they could draft a running back given Alvin Kamara’s contract situation; Boise State stud Ashton Jeanty was someone on our radar in this mock draft but he didn’t make it to the end of Round 1.
We also can’t rule out defensive end (if Chase Young doesn’t re-sign) or cornerback (should Paulson Adebo or Marshon Lattimore leave the team). Safety is a possibility, too, considering Tyrann Mathieu’s age. There’s a lot to like about the Saints’ 2-0 start. That doesn’t mean they can’t improve. They’ll have work to do in the offseason like everyone else and it’s worth taking time to explore draft scenarios like this to get an idea of how they could get better in the spring.
Tyrann Mathieu and Marshon Lattimore are listed as DNP’s, but Willie Gay Jr. and Foster Moreau return on Week 2’s initial Saints injury report:
For the second year in a row, the New Orleans Saints have nearly double the amount of players on the injury report as their opponents. This week it’s the Dallas Cowboys
The Saints had a couple of starters go out during the Week 1 romp of the Carolina Panthers. Willie Gay Jr. (undisclosed), Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), Foster Moreau (concussion) and Lucas Patrick (toe) all exited the game due to injury.
Of the three, only Gay and Moreau returned to practice on Wednesday. Gay wasn’t even on the injury report and Moreau was a limited participant. The Saints are likely to stay patient with Moreau because he left last week’s game with a concussion.
Tyrann Mathieu is another veteran who joined the injury report with a heel injury and didn’t participate. Other contributors Rashid Shaheed (finger) and Jamaal Williams (shoulder) were full participants despite being listed with an injury designation.
Tight end Dallin Holker (ankle) along with A.T. Perry (hand) and Jaylan Ford (hamstring) all returned to practice after not participating in any practice leading into Week 1.
Here’s the initial injury report from both teams for Wednesday Sept. 11:
The New Orleans Saints listed twice as many players as the Carolina Panthers on their first injury report of the 2024 season, but things are trending up for Week 1:
The New Orleans Saints listed twice as many players as the Carolina Panthers on their first injury report of the 2024 season, but things are trending up for Week 1. For one thing, all 22 of their projected starters on offense and defense practiced on Wednesday.
But four players were sidelined for the black and gold. Rookie linebacker Jaylan Ford (hamstring) and first-year tight end Dallin Holker (ankle) were each inactive, as were backup linebacker D’Marco Jackson and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (both calf injuries). Saunders isn’t expected to play this week after getting nicked up late in the preseason.
And the good news is that several key players practiced at least on a limited basis, including cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip) and guard Nick Saldiveri (calf), who each missed most of training camp. Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (back) was also limited in his return to practice. Starting linebacker Pete Werner (shoulder) practiced fully while continuing to receive treatment.
Here’s the initial injury report from both teams for Wednesday, Sept. 4:
The New Orleans Saints decided to keep four of their undrafted rookies on the initial 53-man roster, including Mason Tipton and Rico Payton:
The New Orleans Saints have had a long day of roster moves and cleaning out their position groups until they get down to 53 players for the initial roster. Three players worthy of note who made the cut included undrafted rookies Rico Payton and Mason Tipton, and Dallin Holker, all of whom looked exceptional in training camp. And rookie punter Matthew Hayball won his battle to secure that job, too.
It’s extremely impressive considering Tipton did not play a preseason snap due to injury, but showed out so strongly early at camp that he was retained. As for Payton, he made the roster due to high-level preseason play, despite a slower start to camp, and performed so well that the Saints could not risk putting him on the practice squad. Holker missed some time due to a recennt ankle injury, however, he looked solid enough to be worthy of a roster spot.
Payton was outstanding in all three preseason games, however, in game two he was most noticeable, earning our Player of the Game for that week from the Saints team. He will join the group of Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, and Kool-Aid McKinstry in the cornerback room among anyone else who is not taken off the roster.
In the wide receiver room, NOF’s Nick Underhill has confirmed it will be Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Cedrick Wilson, A.T. Perry, Tipton, and Bub Means to start off the season. All things considered, that was probably the best mix of talent and upside of the wide receivers on the team, so it was formed well given the players they had.
As for the tight ends, we will see Juwan Johnson, Holker, and Foster Moreau with Kevin Rader landing on IR. Ultimately Holker will be a fun addition to the team, who could get some playing time with Taysom Hill seeming more like a fullback in the new offensive scheme for the Saints. We’ll see if all four rookies hang around but for now they have to be feeling optimistic.
The New Orleans Saints were dealt an unfortunate hand during their second preseason matchup, in which they lost 16-10 to the San Francisco 49ers and sustained a couple of injuries. Rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry exited during the first quarter and Dallin Holker was hurt during pregame warmups. Head coach Dennis Allen shared updates for both players during his postgame press conference.
Regarding McKinstry, Allen said that “He has a knee injury, I think we avoided anything serious. Now, what kind of time we are looking at, I really have no idea. But I think we escaped the game, at least on initial report, without any major injuries.”
His statement saying that the Saints seemed to have gotten away without any major injuries is most definitely a notable one, as the injury to McKinstry looked bad upon first glance. Considering he went to the medical tent twice and then to the locker room, we had no real indications of the severity, though it seems less dangerous than first feared.
As for Holker the severity is unknown, however Allen did not seem specifically concerned about it and did not go beyond a short response about it: “He sprained his ankle pre-game. Prior to really pre-game, just throwing with the quarterbacks early on.”
Hopefully this shows faith in it being short-term issues for both first-year pros, but we will see how it develops in the coming days. Two other rookies were also banged up with former Tulane center Sincere Haynesworth being carted off with a leg injury, and sixth-round draft pick Khristian Boyd leaving under his own power before returning. We’ll watch for updates on both.
Prior to training camp starting, that felt like the obvious answer. Seven days through training camp and wide receiver Mason Tipton has climbed to top of the UDFA totem pole.
Tipton has been the show-stealer throughout training camp and has made a few explosive plays through his connection with Spencer Rattler. Tipton is a speedster with the desire to show he’s more than a one trick pony. He’s a receiver who can “run the entire route tree” after leading Yale’s offense the last few years.
Holker was selected because of how open the tight end position is. Juwan Johnson is injured, and Taysom Hill will play all over the field. That leaves Foster Moreau and an open spot for one other player.
The former Yale wide receiver walks into a similarly open room at wide receiver. The Saints are headlined by Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, but there’s no sure thing after those two young stars.
Tipton has had the performances throughout camp and a favorable opportunity in the locker room to be considered the UDFA with the best chance to make the roster.
— B2B2B CHAMPION STALLIONS 🏆🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) July 17, 2024
This is a little unusual — a New Orleans Saints player who is actively under contract with the black and gold heard his name called in the UFL college draft. Rookie tight end Dallin Holker, who played college football at Colorado State, was the Birmingham Stallions’ fifth pick in the spring league draft. So what does that mean?
For now, nothing. Holker has already reported for training camp with the rest of the Saints’ rookies and is preparing to hit the practice field at UC Irvine next week. And he has a great opportunity to make their 53-man roster in September and be active on game days.
With Juwan Johnson sidelined after foot surgery, the only players in front of him are Foster Moreau, Michael Jacobson and Tommy Hudson. The Saints also brought in Jesper Horsted after Johnson’s procedure, and Taysom Hill is also moonlighting at tight end and fullback, among other positions.
The Stallions are betting that Holker won’t make the team, and that the spring league presents a better opportunity than he’d fine on an NFL practice squad. But the Saints have made a sizable investment in him, and it sure looks like Holker is in their plans.
Holker received more guarantees in his rookie contract ($235,000) than two Saints draft picks, sixth-round defensive tackle Khristian Boyd ($178,828) and seventh-round offensive lineman Josiah Ezirim ($98,416). That suggests the Saints plan on him at least signing with their practice squad if he doesn’t make the 53-man roster.
So the Stallions own his rights if he becomes available. It’s not a bad fallback plan. We’ve seen other players excel at the USFL and in the XFL before their merger into the UFL and return to New Orleans like practice squad defensive linemen Niko Lalos and Jack Heflin. But Holker will likely only play for Birmingham if he doesn’t sign a reserve/future contract with a team in January, and that will only happen if he doesn’t remain with the Saints on their practice squad. If he’s on the roster (as is very likely) it’s out of the question entirely.
