Tag: Darrel Williams

Saints running backs Kendre Miller, Kirk Merritt practicing vs. Chargers

New Orleans Saints running backs Kendre Miller and Kirk Merritt return from injuries, practicing vs. Los Angeles Chargers

The New Orleans Saints were able to let out a sigh of relief as they get their running back room back to full strength in the next week of practice after the first preseason game.

Kendre Miller had to leave the game against the Kansas City Chiefs early with a knee injury, a scary moment for all. He was able to avoid a major setback and is already back to practice. Kirk Merritt is another running back that was sidelined, he was dealing with a hamstring injury that made him unavailable, he also returned to practice.

Getting both of those running backs back and also signing former LSU Tigers and Arizona Cardinals running back Darrel Williams will give them a much deeper room for the upcoming game against the Los Angeles Chargers. By the second half of the Chiefs game, they were left with just Ellis Merriweather to carry the load.

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Newly-signed Saints RB Darrel Williams wearing the same jersey number he used at LSU

Newly-signed Saints running back Darrel Williams is wearing the same jersey number he used with the LSU Tigers. Dust off that Ricky Williams jersey if you have one:

This is cool: the New Orleans Saints released their unofficial depth chart ahead of Sunday’s preseason game with the Los Angeles Chargers, including the jersey number for their newly-signed running back Darrel Williams.

It’s a number some of his fans have seen him wear before. Williams is wearing No. 34, which he also used in college with the LSU Tigers. It’s a very cool full-circle moment for the local favorite, who is now playing professionally for his hometown team.

Williams also wore No. 28 in college, which was his high school number at John Ehret in New Orleans’ Marrero community on the West Bank; but it was claimed by veteran defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. before he signed with the Saints. He’s also used No. 24 with the Arizona Cardinals (taken by safety Johnathan Abram) as well as No. 31 while on the Kansas City Chiefs (picked by rookie draft pick Jordan Howden).

So his options were kind of limited. Even with the NFL expanding eligibility for many jersey numbers to open them up for other positions, the only numbers Williams was eligible for at the time of his signing were Nos. 16, 34, and 89 (which had been worn by wide receiver James Washington, who was released to open a spot for Williams). Even with fewer choices, he made a good pick. Dust off that Ricky Williams jersey if you have one.

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Saints release veteran wide receiver James Washington

The New Orleans Saints released veteran wide receiver James Washington to open a roster spot for running back Darrel Williams:

This is a tough break for James Washington: the New Orleans Saints released the veteran wide receiver on Tuesday, per the daily NFL transactions wire. Washington had fallen behind players like Keith Kirkwood and A.T. Perry at training camp, and it didn’t help his case that both receivers caught touchdown passes in the first preseason game while a miscommunication with rookie quarterback Jake Haener led to an interception when the ball was thrown Washington’s way.

Washington, 27, should land on a roster somewhere around the league. After starting his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he played well with the Dallas Cowboys last summer until suffering an injury that derailed his season. Now healthy, he’ll be looking to catch on with another team and make his case for a roster spot in the remaining two weeks of preseason games.

The Saints had to release someone in a corresponding move to the signing of running back Darrel Williams, which was also confirmed on Tuesday’s update to the NFL transactions wire. His departure leaves the following players competing for five or six roster spots at wide receiver:

  • No. 13 Michael Thomas
  • No. 12 Chris Olave
  • No. 22 Rashid Shaheed
  • No. 10 Tre’Quan Smith
  • No. 18 Keith Kirkwood
  • No. 17 A.T. Perry
  • No. 11 Bryan Edwards
  • No. 84 Lynn Bowden
  • No. 88 Shaquan Davis
  • No. 15 Kawaan Baker
  • No. 85 Jontre Kirklin

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Report: Saints sign former Chiefs, Cardinals RB Darrel Williams

NOF’s Nick Underhill reports the Saints signed former Chiefs and Cardinals running back Darrel Williams in light of injuries at the position:

Here’s that move at running back we were expecting: NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that the New Orleans Saints have signed veteran running back Darrel Williams, who worked out for the team on Monday.

Williams arrives after a series of injuries struck the depth chart including a knee sprain that’s expected to sideline rookie third-round draft pick Kendre Miller for the next week or two, as first reported by Underhill. The Saints are also managing a hamstring issue for backup Kirk Merritt in the wake of a season-ending Achilles injury to Eno Benjamin.

And that’s all preceding a three-game suspension for Alvin Kamara, meaning it’ll be some combination of Williams, Miller and Merritt (if healthy) competing with undrafted rookie Ellis Merriweather for one or two roster spots behind Jamaal Williams to start the season.

Williams does have the credentials to make the cut. The 28-year-old is listed at 5-foot-11 and 219 pounds and brings impressive versatility, with real production as a receiver. He didn’t have a big role with the Arizona Cardinals last season (just 25 touches for 111 scrimmage yards and a lone rushing touchdown) but he was much more productive in a better offense with the Kansas City Chiefs.

He totaled 1,014 rushing yards and 771 receiving yards in four years in Kansas City, scoring 15 combined touchdowns as a runner and receiver. He peaked in 2021 with 558 rushing yards (plus 6 touchdown runs) and 452 receiving yards (with a pair of scoring catches). The fifth-year veteran also has experience playing special teams. Williams played collegiately at LSU and hails from John Ehret High School in New Orleans’ Marrero community on the West Bank.

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Report: Saints to host former Chiefs, LSU running back Darrel Williams

Report: Saints to host former Chiefs and LSU running back Darrel Williams for a workout on Monday

There have been no shortage of former LSU Tigers on the New Orleans Saints’ roster under head coach Dennis Allen — and another one could be on the way. TheScore’s Jordan Schultz reports that Darrel Williams will be working out for the team on Monday.

A former standout at LSU and, before that, John Ehret High School in Marrero on the West Bank in New Orleans, Williams has been a solid role player with the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals. He turned 28 this year and could be a good fit in the Saints backfield.

Running back is certainly a position of need for New Orleans. The Saints have already lost one backup (Eno Benjamin) to a season-ending injury and another (Kirk Merritt) wasn’t available for their first preseason game due to a different injury. Promising rookie third-round pick Kendre Miller left the contest with a knee injury, too. Adding a veteran like Williams could be a smart investment. We’ll see if anything comes of this after the Saints failed to cut a deal with Kareem Hunt last week.

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Cardinals place RB Darrel Williams on IR with hip injury

After returning from a knee injury, he now must miss at least the next four games on injured reserve.

The Arizona Cardinals took another hit to their running back room. Just days after running back Darrel Williams returned from a knee injury to play on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, he was placed on injured reserve.

He was a non-participant in the Cardinals’ walkthrough on Wednesday, appearing on the first injury report of the week and, according to the team site’s Darren Urban, was seen using crutches.

Williams must now miss at least four games before he can return.

In six games he has played this season, he has rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 4.9 yards per attempt, and he four catches for nine yards.

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Seahawks Week 6 Inactives: Al Woods 1 of 5 players ruled out vs. Cards

Seahawks Week 6 Inactives: These 5 players ruled out vs. Arizona

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The Seattle Seahawks will look to climb back to .500 against the Arizona Cardinals, but they will have to do so without some recognizable names.

The only player ruled out prior to Sunday was wide receiver Penny Hart, who injured his hamstring against the Saints. For a second straight week the Seahawks’ receiving corps depth will be tested, as rookie Dareke Young was ruled out before the Week 5 showdown in New Orleans.

Unfortunately, the Seahawks will  be without some of their stalwarts on both the offensive and defensive line. Guard Gabe Jackson and defensive tackle Al Woods both left the Saints game with knee injuries. Woods’ absence will be a tremendous blow to an already ailing run defense

The Cardinals already ruled out their top two running backs in James Connor and Darrel Williams. However, both the Lions and the Saints were without key offensive pieces. It did not stop them from scoring 45 and 39 points respectively. This could be a battle between a stoppable force and a movable object.

Seahawks Week 6 Inactives

CB Artie Burns

WR Penny Hart

G Gabe Jackson

DT Al Woods

S Teez Tabor

Cardinals week 6 Inactives

K Matt Prater

QB Trace McSorley

C Rodney Hudson

CB Trayvon Mullen

RB James Connor

RB Darrel Williams

OL Leucites Smith

Check back here at Seahawks Wire during the game for highlights and afterwards for takeaways, photos and analysis.

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Darrel Williams exits game with knee injury

Williams had nine rushing yards and started the second half after James Conner left with a rib injury.

The Arizona Cardinals appear to be down to only one healthy running back. Darrel Williams, whose seven-yard run on a fourth-down fake punt kept a scoring drive alive, left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury.

He was questionable to return, according to a press box announcement.

Williams started the second half in place of James Conner, who left the game in the first half with a rib injury.

Williams had three carries for nine yards.

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Fantasy Football: 9 utilization stats to know from Week 4

Here are key utilization stats fantasy football managers should know following Week 4 of the NFL season.

We’re now four weeks into the 2022 NFL season and injuries are piling up and bye weeks are right around the corner. It’s an important time in fantasy football, and managers need to stay on their toes.

Before you make any roster cuts or waiver claims for Week 5, here are the key utilization notes to know following Week 4.

 

Fantasy Football: 15 waiver wire targets for Week 3

Here are 15 waiver wire targets who could help you in your fantasy football league this week.

Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season is in the books and the injuries are already starting to pile up.

In San Francisco, quarterback Trey Lance suffered an ankle injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season. That leaves Jimmy Garoppolo as the new QB for the 49ers and while he’s not a fantasy football star, Jimmy G is a serviceable fill-in at QB, especially if you just lost Lance.

In Arizona, running back James Conner suffered an ankle injury that left Darrel Williams and Eno Benjamin as the Cardinals’ top remaining running backs on Sunday. Conner’s injury is not believed to be serious, but it’s still worth taking a look at Benjamin and Williams in case Arizona’s starting running back has to miss any games.

Garoppolo, Williams and Benjamin are among the players that headline this week’s waiver wire list that includes targets at quarterback, tight end, wide receiver and running back.

Let’s get to the list!