Tag: inactive

Chiefs bench struggling rookie OL for Week 11 matchup vs. Bills

#Chiefs rookie Kingsley Suamataia has been benched for Kansas City’s Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo #Bills.

The Kansas City Chiefs decided to bench rookie offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia for their Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo Bills this afternoon.

Suamataia was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft and made significant strides toward earning the starting left tackle spot on Kansas City’s front five during training camp and thee preseason.

However, the former BYU Cougar has struggled to find his footing during the regular season and put together a disastrous performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 10.

Veteran lineman Wanya Morris is set to start at left tackle for the Chiefs against Buffalo:

The fact that Suamataia has been benched isn’t necessarily an indication that Kansas City’s coaching staff has lost faith in him, but it also doesn’t bode well for the rookie’s chances of seeing significant playing time later this season.

Stay tuned to see how Morris performs against the Bills’ outstanding defensive line with Suamataia out of action.

Saints announce inactive players for Week 11 game vs. Browns

Erik McCoy is active, but the Saints still aren’t fully healthy on the offensive line. Here’s the full list of inactive players in Week 11.

One name you won’t see on the New Orleans Saints list of inactive players is Erik McCoy. The center was activated from injured reserve on Saturday. That was merely a formality. It was known McCoy would play from the time the Saints waived Connor McGovern.

Unfortunately, the Saints still aren’t at full strength in the interior offensive line. Lucas Patrick remains out with an ankle injury for the second week in a row.

Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor will start in the secondary for the first time since New Orleans traded Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders. McKinstry was out with a hamstring, and now the team can get a look at potentially their cornerbacks of the future.

In addition to Patrick, Jamaal Williams was also ruled out after Friday’s practice. Here is the full list of inactive players as the Saints take on the Browns in a Week 11 showdown:

New Orleans Saints inactive players:

  • G Lucas Patrick (ankle)
  • RB Jamaal Williams (groin)
  • LB Jaylan Ford
  • DT Khristian Boyd
  • WR Mason Tipton
  • S Millard Bradford
  • QB Spencer Rattler (emergency quarterback)

Cleveland Browns inactive players:

  • WR Jaelon Darden
  • RB D’Onta Foreman
  • CBH Chigozie  Anusiem
  • OT  Jedrick Wills Jr.
  • QB  Bailey Zappe (emergency quarterback)

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Saints announce inactive players for Week 9 game vs. Panthers

Injuries in the Saints’ cornerback room highlight the inactive players in Week 9. Here’s who will be sitting this one out for both teams:

Injuries took a toll on the New Orleans Saints cornerback room going into the Carolina Panthers matchup. Marshon Lattimore and Kool-Aid McKinstry were ruled out on Friday due to injury. McKinstry suffered his injury during practice. Lattimore exited a game with a hamstring for the second time this season

Kendre Miller and Bub Means are also dealing with injuries, but they aren’t on the inactive players because they’re on injured reserve. Jamaal Williams was also listed as doubtful.

No Miller. No Williams. Expect the typical heavy dosage of Alvin Kamara.

The Panthers will be without Adam Thielen, but Xavier Legette is available to Bryce Young. Offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu is out after leaving last week’s game with an ankle injury. Young’s supporting cast being at less than full strength will impact an already struggling offense.

This is a rematch from the season opener. The Saints trampled the Panthers and started the Saints hype train. Fast forward to Week 9 and these teams have the two longest losing streaks in the NFL.

Here is the full list of inactive players in Saints versus Panthers:

New Orleans Saints inactive players:

  • CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring)
  • CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring)
  • CB Rico Payton (back)
  • RB Jamaal Williams (groin)
  • DT John Ridgeway (oblique)
  • LB Jaylan Ford
  • QB Spencer Rattler (emergency quarterback)

Carolina Panthers inactive players:

  • LT Ikem Ekwonu (ankle)
  • TE Felipe Franks (concussion)
  • S Jammie Robinson (knee)
  • CB Shemar Bartholomew
  • OLB DJ Johnson
  • TE Tommy Tremble

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Report: Ezekiel Elliott’s reaction to being inactive led Cowboys to leave him in Dallas

From @ToddBrock24f7: Elliott will be a healthy scratch for the first time. He apparently did not react well to the news and will not travel to Atlanta.

“Zeke Who?”

More like: Zeke… Hoo boy.

The Cowboys’ rushing attack has been utterly toothless thus far in 2024, and now not even Ezekiel Elliott will get fed in Week 9 when the team visits the Falcons hoping to get back to .500 ball.

The team website confirms that the ninth-year veteran will not travel to Atlanta with the team. He’ll be inactive for “disciplinary reasons,” according to a report first filed by ESPN’s Todd Archer.

David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports that Elliott was told he’d be inactive and that, ostensibly based on Elliott’s reaction to the news, “a mutual decision was then made that he not accompany the team to Atlanta.”

It will mark the two-time rushing champ’s first healthy scratch in a game that’s not a “meaningless” season finale.

The 3-4 Cowboys currently rank dead last in the NFL in rushing yards and yards per carry. Elliott, in particular, has struggled in his return to Dallas after spending 2023 as a New England Patriot. The former fourth-overall pick is averaging fewer than seven rushing attempts and just 21.3 rushing yards per game, both career-worst numbers (by far) for the three-time Pro Bowler.

The Cowboys have been unable to make a planned running back by committee work through seven games this season. After signing Dalvin Cook prior to Week 1, the team left him inactive until last Sunday’s matchup with the 49ers. Once he finally took the field, Cook gained 12 yards on six carries in his Dallas debut.

Rico Dowdle, the team’s leading rusher, was a late inactive due to what the team called an illness; Deuce Vaughn was active but did not play.

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Cook was elevated once again for Sunday’s game in Atlanta. Dowdle has not been listed on any of the week’s practice reports and carries no gameday designation.

No Cowboys ball carrier has had a run longer than 13 yards this season.

Whether the Cowboys win or lose on Sunday, Elliott’s benching, his apparent reaction to that development, and the fallout from that move will be a major storyline moving forward at The Star, just the latest chapter in a season that has turned dramatic for all the wrong reasons.

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Week 7 inactive report: Second-year Saints draft makes his debut vs. Broncos

Kendre Miller is making his debut, but Khalen Saunders won’t play due to injury. Here is the Week 7 inactive report for both teams:

The new Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos announced their lists of inactive players for Week 7’s prime-time game at the Caesars Superdome, and it’s a lot of high-profile starters sidelined for the black and gold.

But it isn’t all bad news. Second-year running back Kendre Miller will make his season debut after missing all of training camp and the first four games  with a hamstring injury; after practicing for two weeks, his coaches are confident he can get on the field and help the team snap their four-week losing streak.

Additionally, starting left guard/center Lucas Patrick is active, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll play while dealing with a chest injury. He hurt his collarbone a few weeks back and hasn’t been able to practice, so they may be holding him in reserve should other injuries force him into the game.

Here’s the full list:

New Orleans Saints inactive players:

  • QB Derek Carr
  • TE Taysom Hill
  • WR Chris Olave
  • LB Pete Werner
  • DT Khalen Saunders
  • C/G Cesar Ruiz
  • RB Jordan Mims

Denver Broncos inactive players:

  • CB Pat Surtain II
  • CB Kris Abrams-Draine
  • T Alex Palczewski
  • TE Greg Dulcich
  • OLB Dondrea Tillman
  • DL Eyioma Uwazurike
  • QB Zach Wilson (emergency third quarterback)

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Saints announce inactive players for Week 5 game vs. Chiefs

The Saints ruled out five starters prior to Monday. Who else will be inactive as they face the Chiefs on ‘Monday Night Football?’

The New Orleans Saints are once again the more injured team entering the game. The Kansas City Chiefs, however, enter the game without Rashee Rice. That is the biggest loss to the Chiefs. The Saints, on the other hand, already ruled out seven players before the game.

The Saints will have to take on Chiefs defensive tackle without two-thirds of their interior offensive line. Cesar Ruiz will miss his second consecutive game, and Erik McCoy is on injured reserve. To make matters worse, Shane Lemieux started at center last week and is already on injured reserve himself.

Demario Davis returning is the best injury news the Saints have received, but it came at the price of losing Pete Werner and Willie Gay.

Here is the full list of inactive players for the Week 5 game versus the Chiefs:

New Orleans Saints inactive players:

  • G Cesar Ruiz (knee)
  • LB Pete Werner (hamstring)
  • LB Willie Gay (hand)
  • DE Payton Turner (knee)
  • TE Taysom Hill (rib)
  • DT Khristian Boyd
  • QB Spencer Rattler (emergency third quarterback)

Kansas City Chiefs inactive players:

  • OL C.J. Hanson
  • OT Ethan Driskell
  • DT  Marlon Tuipulotu
  • DEE Cameron Thomas

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Khalen Saunders active for his first Saints game since injury

Khalen Saunders is active for his first Saints game since suffering a preseason calf injury. And don’t forget he’s wearing a new number in 2024:

Khalen Saunders is active for his first New Orleans Saints game since suffering a preseason calf injury, having replaced John Ridgeway III in the rotation at defensive tackle for Sunday’s game with the Atlanta Falcons. And don’t forget he’s wearing a new number in 2024 after giving No. 99 to Chase Young; “Bink” has switched to No. 50 instead.

He was a big part of Dennis Allen’s defense last season. Saunders played 523 snaps across 17 games, totaling a career-high 57 tackles (24 solo). He also got some looks on offense as a blocking fullback and decoy in the backfield. There aren’t too many guys at his size (6-foot, 324 pounds) who can do that, but Saunders is more nimble than you might expect.

We’ll see what he has in store for Sunday. The Saints have given the lion’s share of reps to Bryan Bresee and Nathan Shepherd at defensive tackle, though rookie draft pick Khristian Boyd has had an active presence. We’ve also seen Cameron Jordan and Payton Turner move inside for obvious passing situations. Here’s hoping Saunders makes the most of his chances.

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Rookie guard Kyle Hergel to make his Saints regular season debut vs. Falcons

Offensive line injuries have forced the Saints to tap into the depth on their practice squad. Rookie guard Kyle Hergel is set to make his NFL debut:

Sunday’s game with the Atlanta Falcons will mark the regular season debut for Kyle Hergel. Offensive line injuries have forced the New Orleans Saints to tap into the depth on their practice squad — starting center Erik McCoy and right guard Cesar Ruiz are both unavailable, so the team chose Hergel as their lone elevation from the practice squad for Week 4.

While he was the primary backup for Ruiz at right guard throughout training camp, the Saints may choose to bring Hergel in off the bench with a veteran like Landon Young starting instead.

He’s taken a unique path to the NFL. Hergel is Canadian, and he made a couple of different stops in college football before turning pro out of Boston College. That experience proved invaluable in preparing him for the next level, and even if he didn’t make the 53-man roster it’s clear the Saints have a role in mind for him. Let’s see if he can seize this opportunity, however it manifests.

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It’ll take a group effort for the Saints to replace Taysom Hill

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.

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What to make of the A.T. Perry healthy scratch situation from Week 2

A hand injury sidelined him for Week 1, but A.T. Perry was a healthy scratch for Week 2. What should we make of his situation going into Week 3?

The New Orleans Saints have been hitting a little more often on their draft picks as of late, with players like Bryan Bresee, Taliese Fuaga, Chris Olave, and even a resurging Trevor Penning all helping them to a 2-0 start.

But one of their most-hyped picks in the later rounds was in 2023, when they took A.T. Perry out of Wake Forest. He was a highly gifted athlete who produced at the college level and seemed very talented, so why did he fall? Perry himself cited that he was told teams were scared off by unspecified character issues, which he said was due to him being a quieter person.

The concern now lies in his utilization through the first few weeks of the season, including preseason. He was marginally used in most of the preseason games but many believed that was because he had locked in a higher-up spot on the depth chart. That may have been the wrong read on the situation. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill tracked all 267 passes Derek Carr threw during team drills at training camp and Perry only caught one of them.

Then he suffered a hand injury, missing Thursday and Friday practices before Week 1’s kickoff game, and was questionable to play before being ruled out. This is pretty normal and nothing really looked awry. Then he returned to practice before Week 2, fully practicing the whole week and entering game-day without a designation.

However, he ended up being a healthy scratch in Week 2, despite the team generally being somewhat short at the wide receiver position. They ran Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Bub Means, and Mason Tipton in his stead the first two weeks.

Could this have been purely precautionary as it was a hand injury, and avoiding further complications is for the best? Possibly. But this week against the Philadelphia Eagles will be very telling, as Wilson is coming off an abdomen injury and was limited all week despite having no designation.

Perry was limited Thursday with an illness but returned fully on Friday, and is again questionable to play. If he misses a third game to start the season, it will be a somewhat odd occurrence for sure. He seemed to play well in his time last year, totaling 12 receptions for 246 yards (20.5 average) and 4 touchdowns, but who knows what is going on behind the scenes. Hopefully Perry can work his way back into the rotation. If not, Tipton, Means, and Wilson will need to step up in his stead.

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