Tag: daniel sorensen

Saints announce 5 roster moves before Week 14 matchup vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints announced five roster moves before their Week 14 matchup with the Carolina Panthers:

The New Orleans Saints announced five roster moves before their Week 14 matchup with the Carolina Panthers, losing two key defenders to injured reserve while parting ways with a veteran on the practice squad — and signing a couple of young defensive players to reinforce the 53-man roster. Here’s what you need to know about each move:

Saints open a practice squad spot by releasing Daniel Sorensen

The Saints opened a practice squad spot by releasing safety Daniel Sorensen:

The New Orleans Saints opened a practice squad spot by releasing safety Daniel Sorensen, per Tuesday’s reported roster moves on the daily NFL transactions wire. But they haven’t filled the vacancy as of Wednesday’s update.

Sorensen, 33, was let go in free agency back in March but re-signed with the Saints practice squad in late September. He’s appeared in two games with New Orleans and played more snaps on special teams (37) than on defense (9) without recording a tackle. He signed with the Saints last season at the veteran minimum after spending his first eight years in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, playing in 145 games (including the playoffs) and winning a Super Bowl ring.

Curiously, the decision to release him preceded the loss of starting free safety Marcus Maye, who will miss the next four games on injured reserve; the Saints had valued Sorensen as an experienced player on the depth chart, but they must have felt they have better options on the roster in guys like Jordan Howden, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and Johnathan Abram. We’ll see where Sorensen lands next.

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Saints elevate two experienced defensive backs for Week 5’s Patriots game

The Saints elevated two experienced defensive backs for Week 5’s Patriots game, bringing up Johnathan Abram and Daniel Sorensen from the practice squad:

The New Orleans Saints elevated two experienced defensive backs for Week 5’s game with the New England Patriots, bringing up safeties Johnathan Abram and Daniel Sorensen from the practice squad. They’ll be without backup safety Lonnie Johnson (one of their core special teams players) as well as starting free safety Marcus Maye, who is serving the final week of his three-game suspension.

Abram cannot be elevated for any more games this season; if the Saints want to continue playing him, they’ll have to sign him to the 53-man roster. He totaled 56 snaps on defense last Sunday. This is the first of three game-week elevations for Sorensen, who only recently re-signed with the Saints practice squad.

But there’s some good news. Rookie safety Jordan Howden is expected to return to the lineup after missing last week’s game, having returned to practice following surgery on his injured finger. He played well in his first career start against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 and should continue to earn more snaps during Maye’s absence. But having a pair of players with Abram and Sorensen’s experience waiting in the wings is a nice insurance policy to maintain.

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Report: Saints bringing veteran safety Daniel Sorensen back to their practice squad

Report: Saints bringing veteran safety Daniel Sorensen back to their practice squad, adding experienced depth during Marcus Maye’s suspension

Look who’s back: TheScore’s Jordan Schultz reports that the New Orleans Saints are signing veteran safety Daniel Sorensen to their practice squad, adding depth at the position during Marcus Maye’s three-game suspension.

Sorensen signed with the Saints last year after spending his first eight years in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, ultimately playing a heavier role on special teams (319 snaps) than on defense (164). Still, he tallied 25 tackles (15 solo) and intercepted a pair of passes while breaking up three others, so he made the most of his opportunities when he was on the field.

The Saints could use improved depth on the back end with Maye sidelined for the next two games. Right now their depth chart includes Tyrann Mathieu, Jordan Howden, Lonnie Johnson Jr., J.T. Gray, and Ugo Amadi on the 53-man roster with Johnathan Abram on the practice squad. Abram was called up for Week 3’s road game with the Green Bay Packers so it makes sense to bring in another experienced pro who knows what’s expected of him.

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Unsigned Saints free agents after the NFL draft

P.J. Williams, Mark Ingram II, and Jarvis Landry are among the unsigned New Orleans Saints free agents after the NFL draft:

The 2023 NFL draft has come and gone, which led to a new wave of free agent signings around the league as teams finish crossing off items on their to-do list. And there are still a number of unsigned New Orleans Saints free agents looking for work. Some of them may get tryout opportunities at rookie minicamps around the league, but others will have to wait until summer practice sessions ramp up. It’s unfortunate, but a few players likely won’t hear from teams at all.

It’s been a busy offseason for the Saints free agents. They’ve signed extensions with many of their own players, including tight end Juwan Johnson, punter Blake Gillikin, defensive linemen Tanoh Kpassagnon and Malcolm Roach, as well as linebackers Ty Summers and Andrew Dowell, plus safety J.T. Gray and cornerback Isaac Yiadom.

But they’ve taken a lot of losses, too: defensive linemen David Onyemata (Atlanta Falcons), Marcus Davenport (Minnesota Vikings), Shy Tuttle (Carolina Panthers), and Kentavius Street (Philadelphia Eagles); linebacker Kaden Elliss (Falcons), safety Justin Evans (Eagles), offensive tackle Ethan Greenidge (Falcons), and wide receivers Marquez Callaway (Denver Broncos) and Deonte Harty (Buffalo Bills) are also playing elsewhere. So is quarterback Andy Dalton (Panthers).

So who else still has their status up in the air? Let’s recap the list of remaining Saints free agents after the draft:

List of Saints free agents who remain unsigned

WR Jarvis Landry, RB Mark Ingram II, and DB P.J. Williams headline the list of New Orleans Saints free agents who remain unsigned:

The list of unsigned New Orleans Saints free agents still stands ten-deep three weeks out from the 2023 NFL draft, with a number of players returning to New Orleans on extensions: a group that includes tight end Juwan Johnson, punter Blake Gillikin, defensive linemen Tanoh Kpassagnon and Malcolm Roach, as well as linebackers Ty Summers and Andrew Dowell, plus safety J.T. Gray and cornerback Isaac Yiadom.

But many other Saints free agents are suiting up for other teams in 2023, like big-name defensive linemen David Onyemata (Atlanta Falcons), Marcus Davenport (Minnesota Vikings), Shy Tuttle (Carolina Panthers), and Kentavius Street (Philadelphia Eagles); linebacker Kaden Elliss (Falcons), safety Justin Evans (Eagles), and wide receivers Marquez Callaway (Denver Broncos) and Deonte Harty (Buffalo Bills) are also playing elsewhere. So is quarterback Andy Dalton (Panthers).

Other names could be on the move, too, as teams look to finalize their rosters going into the draft. Here are ten other Saints free agents who could sign with new teams or return to New Orleans this offseason:

1 pending free agent Chargers should target: NFC South Edition

Listing one free agent from the Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers and Panthers who could be a fit for the Chargers.

The Chargers won’t be as aggressive as they have been in recent years when it comes to signing free agents.

While they’re cash-strapped, general manager Tom Telesco will likely make some moves to have some spendings available to them so they can sign some low-cost players.

That said, I will list one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A.

Next up is the NFC South.

Saints free agent report cards: Grading value signings from 2022

New Orleans Saints free agent report cards: Daniel Sorensen and Kentavius Street were among 2022’s value signings, but how much did they help the team?

We’ve already reviewed the larger moves of last year’s New Orleans Saints free agent class — handing out report cards for veteran players like quarterback Andy Dalton, slot receiver Jarvis Landry, and safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye. But they weren’t the only players the Saints added last offseason. They made a series of value signings at or near the veteran’s minimum, and some of those players really helped the team out in some clutch moments.

Here’s a quick look at the free agent report cards for safeties Daniel Sorensen and Justin Evans, tight end J.P. Holtz, and defensive lineman Kentavius Street:

WATCH: Deshaun Watson intercepted by third-string Saints safety Daniel Sorensen

Daniel Sorensen got into the game after injuries to Marcus Maye and Justin Evans, and made the most of his opportunity to intercept Deshaun Watson:

Daniel Sorensen is a New Orleans Saints legend. The veteran safety has been limited to a role on special teams this season, but he got into the game for a clutch moment against the Cleveland Browns. With starting free safety Marcus Maye ruled out due to an injury and his backup Justin Evans banged up during the game, Sorensen took the field and intercepted Deshaun Watson to set up a critical drive.

Rookie defensive back Alontae Taylor broke up an errant pass going to wide receiver David Bell, deflecting it into the air — where Sorensen plucked it away, gaining 36 yards on the return. That put Alvin Kamara in position to score a touchdown run and take the lead for the first time on Saturday. Good on Sorensen for making the most of his opportunity.

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Who is on the Saints’ roster bubble entering the preseason finale?

Who is on the Saints’ roster bubble entering the preseason finale? Breaking down the list on offense and defense:

It’s going to be tough to make the New Orleans Saints’ roster. Just 53 of the 80 players under contract right now are going to make the cut, and many of those roster spots are already accounted for – by my count, as many as 46 players should be safe bets to make the opening-day depth chart (granted, three of them are specialists in the kicking game). 

Everyone else is on the roster bubble. A strong performance on Friday night against the Los Angeles Chargers could be what they need to win a job for Week 1, but falling shy of expectations could send their career in another direction. There’s a lot on the line for many of these guys. With that in mind, here are the players likely on the bubble going into the preseason finale: