Tag: Dwayne Washington

Dwayne Washington says he’s ‘not going nowhere’ after Saints release

That’s a relief. Dwayne Washington says he’s ‘not going nowhere’ after Saints release, suggesting he’ll re-sign with New Orleans soon after this procedural move:

Well that’s reassuring. Dwayne Washington took to Twitter on Thursday evening to allay the concerned New Orleans Saints fanbase, saying from his personal social media account that “I’m not going nowhere,” upon his surprise release from the black and gold. The veteran backup has been a big help for the Saints on special teams and looked to be running with some more juice in their three preseason games over the summer, so parting ways with him so suddenly after the NFL roster cuts deadline was perplexing.

But it makes sense as a procedural move. The Saints have multiple players managing injuries, with some of them expected to hit the reserve list soon, but they have to wait until certain dates to file those transactions to best benefit the team (either from a salary cap standpoint or in allowing the players to return for games later this season). They needed an open roster spot, and Washington was a vested veteran who would not be subject to waivers, so they could temporarily release him only to re-sign the running back once other moves are processed.

It’s complicated, but it’s part of the game. Right now the Saints are at capacity with 53 players on the active roster (defensive tackle Malcolm Roach will be going on injured reserve, but that hasn’t been officially processed yet) and 15 of their 16 practice squad spots filled. Once Roach and some others are sent to IR, we should anticipate a quick return for Washington. The roster is very much in flux this time of the year — there’s a reason we call it the initial 53-man lineup, not the final iteration.

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Saints release backup RB Dwayne Washington

In a surprise move, the New Orleans Saints released backup RB Dwayne Washington after setting the initial 53-man roster:

Well that’s odd. Per Wednesday’s update to the daily transactions wire, the New Orleans Saints released veteran running back Dwayne Washington. The 28-year old appeared in 57 games with the Saints since joining them back in 2018, having spent the first two years of his career with the Detroit Lions.

Washington left the team’s Aug. 16 practice early with an undisclosed injury, and he hadn’t been spotted often at the facility in the weeks since. It’s possible he needs a four-week rest on injured reserve to heal up and aim for an early-season return, but at this point we just don’t know. For what it’s worth, the Saints did not release Washington with an injury designation, as is typical in these moves to IR, so he could just be moving on. He could be moving down to the practice squad. So stay tuned for updates on this front.

In any event: the running backs left on the 53-man roster include Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram II, and Tony Jones Jr., along with fullback Adam Prentice. The only runners on the practice squad are fullback/tight end J.P. Holtz and wide receiver Kirk Merritt, who got some snaps in the backfield late in the summer. Ingram looked like he was running with fresh legs in the Saints’ preseason finale, but with the free agent market thinning out quickly New Orleans may struggle to add more depth behind him and Kamara.

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Watch: Dwayne Washington scores on a 9-yard screen in preseason opener vs Texans

Dwayne Washington makes good on his newly found confidence with a touchdown catch from Andy Dalton in their preseason opener with the Texans, via @RossJakcsonNOLA

The New Orleans Saints got on the board quickly as their preseason opener against the Houston Texans got under way. With quarterback Andy Dalton at the helm, he led an efficient 10-play, 67-yard drive which was capped off by a 9-yard touchdown on a screen pass to running back Dwayne Washington as offensive linemen Andrus Peat and Erik McCoy led the way.

New Orleans worked on the screen game during their recent training camp practices with one of the highlights of camp coming on a Tony Jones Jr. 60-yard catch and run. This time it’s Washington who walks into the endzone. The veteran running back expressed the high level of confidence he feels going into the 2022 Saints season, and this should only add to that.

Saints re-sign special teams ace RB Dwayne Washington for 2022

The Saints re-signed Dwayne Washington for the 2022 season, retaining depth at running back and an important special teams player:

Here’s a good move: the New Orleans Saints brought back Dwayne Washington for the 2022 season, the team announced Monday, signing the running back to a one-year deal. Washington was one of their top special teams players in 2021, when he finished with the sixth-most snaps played in the kicking game. He’s one of just two players to log 200-plus snaps on special teams for New Orleans in each of the last three seasons, along with safety J.T. Gray, who has earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition in the role.

So bringing Washington back makes sense. He joins a depth chart at running back that also features Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram II, Tony Jones Jr., Josh Adams, and fullback Adam Prentice, but the Saints should continue to look for a quality backup for Kamara. Ingram and Jones didn’t show much in 2021 while battling injuries, while Adams is returning from the practice squad — Kamara is expected to miss time this season stemming from a Las Vegas arrest earlier this year.

Washington could figure to play a larger role on offense in Kamara’s absence, but that’s unlikely given he has seen just 15, 11, and 18 snaps with the offense in New Orleans over the last three years. He’s averaged 0.9 attempts for 4.5 yards per game in his Saints, clocking an impressive rate of 5.2 yards per carry but seeing few opportunities. Washington has helped his case a little by catching all three of his targets to pick up 18 receiving yards, though.

Still, good on him for extending his career. Washington, who turns 28 next Sunday, was initially drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions after posting a solid three-year run with the Washington Huskies in college. The Lakewood, Calif. native has carved out a real role for himself since signing with the Saints’ practice squad in 2018. Let’s see where his career takes him next.

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Demario Davis, Ryan Ramczyk put Saints up to 15 players on COVID-19 reserve

Demario Davis, Ryan Ramczyk put Saints up to 15 players on COVID-19 reserve

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Several more New Orleans Saints players have been added to the COVID-19 reserve list, and two of them have earned All-Pro recognition in recent years. Right tackle Ryan Ramzcyk was removed from the injury report on Friday after testing positive for COVID-19, and he’s joined by standout linebacker Demario Davis. Backup running back Dwayne Washington has also been sidelined after entering COVID-19 protocols.

Ramczyk’s been out of action since Week 10 due to a knee injury, but it’s still disappointing to lose the possibility he could play this week. Davis is a serious loss as the defensive signal-caller and one of the team’s most visible leaders. And Washington’s absence piles on another hurdle for the special teams units — four of the six players to see 200-plus snaps in the kicking game this season aren’t available now.

That raises the total of Saints COVID-19 absences this week to 15. Two tight ends (Juwan Johnson and Adam Trautman) entered protocols early this week, and they were followed by nine more players including quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian. Now we’ve got four more hurdles to overcome, including these three and Pro Bowl special teams ace J.T. Gray.

Saints roster bubble: Which players helped their case vs. Jaguars?

Saints roster bubble: Which players helped their case vs. Jaguars?

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The next wave of NFL roster cuts is just hours away, meaning the New Orleans Saints must continue to whittle down their depth chart from 85 players to just 80. Next week’s final deadline will see teams trim down to the 53-player limit for the regular season, which raises the pressure on players on the roster bubble across the league.

So these preseason games are great opportunities to build a case for a job. And several Saints players on the bubble seized their chance with both hands. Here is who impressed during New Orleans’ win against the Jacksonville Jaguars:

Saints reach contract agreement with RB Dwayne Washington

The New Orleans Saints re-signed another pending free agent by agreeing to a contract extension with special teams ace RB Dwayne Washington.

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Cross another item off the to-do list. The New Orleans Saints announced Wednesday that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with running back Dwayne Washington, one of their core special teamers — he was one of just six players to log 200-plus reps in the kicking game last year. Washington has also averaged 5.3 yards per carry on 43 attempts in three years with New Orleans as a backup.

He’ll receive more than $300,000 in guarantees on this low-cost extension, which carries a salary cap hit of just $987,500, per Amie Just of the Times-Picayune | The Advocate. Washington’s return follows the re-signing of his fellow backup Ty Montgomery, giving the Saints some experience behind Alvin Kamara; No. 2 running back Latavius Murray is a cap cut candidate who has popped up in trade talks.

So this is a small move, but it’s an important step towards fielding a competitive roster in 2021. If the Saints get out of Murray’s contract, having someone with real NFL experience like Washington is a big help, even if most of his contributions come on special teams. Let’s see what comes next.

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Saints activate RB Dwayne Washington after 18 days on COVID-19 reserve

The New Orleans Saints welcomed running back Dwayne Washington back to practice after an 18-day absence on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list.

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The New Orleans Saints activated running back Dwayne Washington from the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list on Thursday, 18 days after he was first sidelined per league protocol. He was the fourth Saints player to land on the list since training camp opened in late July, but each of his teammates returned to work after a day or two, writing the experience off as false positive test results.

That wasn’t the case for Washington, who missed the rest of camp and the first regular season game. Teams keep test results confidential so there’s no way of knowing for sure, but the lengthy absence for Washington would suggest he contracted the coronavirus. And thankfully, it appears he’s made a full recovery.

Washington returned to practice with the Saints on Thursday, and he could very well suit up for Monday’s kickoff with the Las Vegas Raiders. He was a core special teamer last season — only cornerback Justin Hardee and linebacker Craig Robertson played more snaps in the game’s third phase — but it remains to be seen how large of a role he’ll see on offense. Washington saw just 18 snaps there in 2019, buried beneath Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray on the depth chart.

Now he has to contend with training camp breakout Ty Montgomery, who got in on four snaps with the Saints offense in their 2020 season opener. Montgomery also placed third in New Orleans for special teams snaps played (behind Hardee and Robertson) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so maybe he and Washington can coexist.

And the Saints will not have to waive a player to make room for Washington on their 53-man roster. They never replaced rookie punter Blake Gillikin after he landed on injured reserve last week, so a spot was kept open for Washington once he was cleared to return. But the Saints do have an open vacancy on their 16-strong practice squad after linebacker Anthony Chickillo left for an opportunity on the Denver Broncos active roster, so some movement should be expected.

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Saints running back Dwayne Washington entering Day 9 on COVID-19 list

New Orleans Saints running back Dwayne Washington has spent more than a week away from the team while on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list.

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The first three New Orleans Saints players to land on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list all returned to action within a few days, presumably due to false positive test results: neither linebacker Kaden Elliss, long snapper Zach Wood, nor wide receiver Deonte Harris spent much time away from the team.

That hasn’t been the case for running back Dwayne Washington. Washington has been sequestered within the COVID-19 protocol for nine days since being sidelined on Aug. 30. Per NFL testing rules, any players displaying symptoms for COVID-19 must wait 10 days since they first appeared as well as three days after they were last detected before they can return. For players who have not shown symptoms but tested positive, the 10-day wait is sufficient.

It’s fairly complicated, but the strategy has worked so far. Of the thousands of players tested in the NFL recently, just a handful have been listed on the COVID-19 reserve. Teams have done a great job of detecting infections and preventing them from spreading further. But the challenge is only going to increase once games start being played.

Washington will not count against the 53-man roster limit for the Saints while designated on COVID-19 reserve. When he is cleared for work, though, someone may have to be waived or released if the Saints decide to add him to the depth chart.

Hopefully this is nothing serious for Washington. We should get an update on his situation in the next few days. Here’s hoping for good news.

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Saints designate Dwayne Washington to the NFL’s COVID-19 list

The New Orleans Saints added Dwayne Washington, a backing running back and special teams ace, to the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday.

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The New Orleans Saints added running back Dwayne Washington to the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list on Aug. 30, making him their fourth player to be sidelined due to the public health crisis. However, it’s unclear whether Washington received a positive test result or was exposed to someone who had; those sort of details are not made public knowledge.

Each of Washington’s three teammates to previously go through the reserve/COVID-19 protocol were cleared within a few days: linebacker Kaden Elliss, long snapper Zach Wood, and wide receiver Deonte Harris all retested negative after a brief time away from the team. Hopefully this is nothing serious for Washington’s personal health.

He’s been competing with Ty Montgomery and undrafted free agent Tony Jones Jr. for a backup job behind Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray. Washington probably had an inside edge on that roster battle after standing out on special teams (where he played 295 snaps in 2019, third-most on the team), but Montgomery’s almost-daily highlight moments in training camp practice could make a compelling argument.

So stay tuned for updates on Washington’s situation, as well as news about Saints owner Gayle Benson. Benson was diagnosed with COVID-19 and has been receiving medical attention while working from home. The coronavirus has hit the Saints close to home already, and everyone must remain vigilant as we continue to navigate this pandemic.

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