Tag: isaiah stalbird

Saints only use one of two practice squad elevations in Week 3

The Saints used only one of their two practice squad elevations for Week 3, adding linebacker Isaiah Stalbird to their active roster against the the Eagles:

The New Orleans Saints used just one of their two available practice squad elevations heading into Week 3’s matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, adding linebacker Isaiah Stalbird to the active roster.

This is the second week in a row where he has been brought up from the practice squad, and he did make one tackle last week against the Dallas Cowboys while playing 14 snaps on special teams.

Stalbird was a rookie undrafted free agent signing for the Saints this spring after he played 52 games for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. In those 52 games, he accrued 238 tackles (139 solo, 99 assisted), 18.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 18 pass deflections, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and an interception.

Prior to that, Stalbird spent two seasons with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, redshirting his freshman season in 2018, and then being a critical special teams player in 2019 appearing in all 12 games and leading the team with 10 special teams tackles (out of his 13 total on the season).

This level of production and versatility is what likely caught the eye of the Saints’ scouting department, and why he ended up remaining with the team, even if it’s on the practice squad. That he’s now been activated for two games so early in the season speaks well to how highly his coaches value him.

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Saints announce practice squad elevations for Week 2

Saints bring up Ugo Amadi and Isaiah Stalbird from the practice squad to the active roster for Week 2

Ahead of their game versus the Dallas Cowboys, the New Orleans Saints are elevating safety Ugo Amadi and linebacker Isaiah Stalbird from the practice squad.

Each week teams are allowed to bring a maximum of two players from the practice squad to the main roster each week. After three elevations, a player has to be signed to the main roster to appear again.

That’s not an imminent future at the moment. It’s only Week 2, and this is the first time either team has been elevated to the active roster this season..

For Stalbird, this will be his first career game. The Saints picked up the linebacker as an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State. The Saints called up Khaleke Hudson last week before the Browns signed him off the Saints’ practice squad.

Amadi was on last year’s active roster for all 17 games. He’s played safety and slot corner, but it’s unlikely he’ll see much time in those positions against the Cowboys. Like Stalbird, Amadi will see the majority of his snaps on special teams. Marshon Lattimore’s health could push him into getting defensive snaps.

Countdown to Kickoff: Isaiah Stalbird is Saints Player of Day 44

Isaiah Stalbird is the New Orleans Saints Player of Day 44 in our countdown. How can the versatile rookie from South Dakota State win a roster spot?

There are only 44 more days to go until the New Orleans Saints kick off their season against the Carolina Panthers. That makes today’s player of the day rookie linebacker Isaiah Stalbird. Let’s get to know one of the newer members to join the squad:

  • Name (Age): Isaiah Stalbird (24)
  • Position: Linebacker
  • Height, weight: 6-foot 1, 220 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 9.50
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $798,333
  • College: South Dakota State
  • Drafted: Undrafted in 2024 (New Orleans Saints)
  • NFL experience: Rookie

You may not think of South Dakota State as a school that produces NFL talent, but they’ve produced some solid players. Adam Vinatieri, Dallas Goddert, and Tucker Kraft, to name a few. Isaiah Stalbird is looking to add his name to the list after a successful collegiate career.

He played a total of 52 games at both linebacker and safety and amassed 238 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 18 pass deflections, and five forced fumbles. Stalbird signed with the Saints on a three-year, $2,840,000 deal after going undrafted this year. He was guaranteed $110,000 to sign with New Orleans, which is a sizeable investment.

Still, it’ll be an uphill battle for Stalbird to earn one of the starting linebacker jobs. His best path forward runs through the special teams units covering punts and kickoffs. However, with his elite athleticism demonstrated by his testing numbers, he might be able to carve a role out in the kicking game and possibly make the practice squad.

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