Tag: Jaylon Smith

Jaylon Smith could make his Saints debut on Thursday night vs. Jaguars

Jaylon Smith could make his Saints debut on Thursday night against the Jaguars, but only if Demario Davis (knee) isn’t able to play due to an injury:

Let’s start with the good news: Jaylon Smith could make his New Orleans Saints debut on Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, having ingratiated himself quickly to fans as the team’s third-best linebacker in preseason. But Smith doesn’t play special teams, and with the starters healthy there haven’t been enough snaps to go around for him to get into games.

And there’s the bad news. Pro Bowl linebacker Demario Davis is questionable for this game due to a knee injury that limited him in practice all week. If he can’t go, the Saints defense will be without one of its most important playmakers, even if Smith is a capable backup.

Other linebackers available for Thursday’s game include Pete Werner, Zack Baun, Nephi Sewell, D’Marco Jackson, and Ty Summers. They also have rookie linebacker Anfernee Orji on the practice squad with Smith.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Saints say special teams LB Ryan Connelly re-injured his knee

Saints head coach Dennis Allen says special teams linebacker Ryan Connelly re-injured his knee against the Titans. They’ll need more help covering punts and kickoffs:

Ryan Connelly can’t catch a break. The New Orleans Saints backup linebacker didn’t make the cut for a spot on the 53-man roster despite having played well in preseason both on defense and special teams, ultimately having to settle for the practice squad.

And when he got elevated for their Week 1 matchup with the Tennessee Titans, Connelly played almost every snap in the kicking game (21 of 24 reps) before going down with an injury that slowed him down earlier this summer. Saints head coach Dennis Allen shared an update on Connelly’s status after the game.

“Ryan Connelly probably is going to miss some time with that same knee that he had injured earlier,” Allen said, referencing the knee injury that the team feared could have required surgery and threatened Connelly’s season. Further exams revealed less damage than expected, but now he’s going back on the mend.

Because Connelly was on the practice squad, the Saints won’t have to designate him to injured reserve; instead, if this as severe as Allen’s comment suggests, he can be placed on the practice squad/injured list which functions the same way. It’s an approach the team used with wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey back in 2020, sidelining him for more than two months.

So who could replace him? The Saints elevate different players from the practice squad each week (remember, each player may only be elevated three times before being signed to the 53-man roster) so they may approach things differently with less of an emphasis on special teams. But if the Saints do want someone else out there covering punts and kickoffs, it would make more sense to elevate rookie linebacker Anfernee Orji than his veteran teammate Jaylon Smith given Orji’s performance in that role during the preseason games. It’s not something Smith has shown he can do.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Saints elevate two practice squad players for Week 1 kickoff vs. Titans

The Saints elevated two practice squad players for their Week 1 kickoff game with the Titans — including a veteran linebacker, but maybe not who you think:

A veteran linebacker has been called up from the New Orleans Saints practice squad for Week 1’s kickoff game with the Tennessee Titans, but it isn’t who you’re probably thinking of. The Saints declared linebacker Ryan Connelly and running back Tony Jones Jr. as their two allotted game-week standard elevations on Saturday, giving both pros a chance to play on Sunday.

Why Connelly and not Jaylon Smith, the former Pro Bowler and fan-favorite? Saints coach Dennis Allen has made it clear that a role on special teams will be required for any backup linebacker on the active roster, and that’s an area where Connelly shined over the summer with 32 snaps covering punts and kickoffs in two preseason games. Smith didn’t play a single snap in the kicking game in preseason. With Demario Davis and Pete Werner starting any of their backups must help out in the game’s third phase to justify a spot on the active roster.

That’s not to say Smith won’t find a role on this team sooner or later. If he can match Zack Baun’s productivity on the strong side he could climb the depth chart in a hurry, though most of his career thus far has been spent at middle linebacker. Fans may not see much of him unless Davis or Werner goes down with an injury. Hopefully he can find a way onto the field that doesn’t require that.

What about Jones? The Saints brought back their former backup after the Denver Broncos released him during roster cuts and he could play this week. Rookie running back Kendre Miller is questionable with a hamstring injury that’s kept him out of practice for two weeks and it might make more sense to rest him a little longer while having Jones and Kirk Merritt back up Jamaal Williams. The backfield is still missing Alvin Kamara, but Jones is someone the Saints have expressed confidence in as an experienced pro who knows what’s expected of him.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Jamaal Williams, Foster Moreau among many Saints changing jersey numbers

Jamaal Williams and Foster Moreau are among many New Orleans Saints changing jersey numbers in the wake of last week’s roster cuts:

A small crowd of New Orleans Saints players are changing jersey numbers in the wake of roster cuts last week, which freed up a lot of coveted numbers — and some big names like running back Jamaal Williams and tight end Foster Moreau are among those making moves. So is rookie quarterback Jake Haener.

Here are all nine players who have switched numbers before the regular season kicks off:

Bleacher Report has an interesting pick for Saints’ final free agent target

Bleacher Report has an interesting pick for the New Orleans Saints’ final free agent target, suggesting they add another veteran linebacker:

Are the New Orleans Saints finished bringing in outside help? With the regular season just a week away, it’s a little late to go signing more free agents — but that’s what Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine suggested in a writeup linking all 32 NFL teams to a free agent who could be what they need to get over the top.

And Ballentine sees a need for another veteran linebacker in New Orleans, writing that ex-Philadelphia Eagles pickup Nicholas Morrow (one of Derek Carr’s former Raiders teammates) is an ideal fit on their depth chart:

“Nicholas Morrow went from being penciled in as a starting linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason to looking for work at the beginning of September.

The Eagles deemed Morrow expendable because his contract contained no guaranteed money and they signed fellow linebacker Zach Cunningham during training camp. However, he should be on a roster. He started all 17 games for the Chicago Bears last season, registering 116 tackles, including 11 for a loss.

The New Orleans Saints should be interested in Morrow. Demario Davis has been playing at an elite level, but he’s 34 years old. Zack Baun has yet to break out, and Pete Werner missed a few games with injuries last season.

Signing Morrow would give the Saints a reliable veteran option to spell any of those linebackers or a spot-starter in case of injury.”

But wouldn’t Morrow fit the same niche that Jaylon Smith has laid claim to? He’s the next man up behind Davis and Werner. But there could be room on the practice squad if the Saints want someone with more pro experience to round out the depth chart. Here are the total years, games, and defensive snaps played in the NFL by each Saints linebacker currently under contract (including the playoffs):

  • Demario Davis: 10,492 snaps across 182 games in 11 years; 57.6 snaps per game and 16.5 games per year
  • Pete Werner: 991 snaps across 27 games in 2 years; 36.7 snaps per game and 13.5 games per year
  • Zack Baun: 379 snaps across 47 games in 3 years; 8.1 snaps per game and 15.6 games per year
  • Nephi Sewell: 1 snap across 4 games in 1 year
  • D’Marco Jackson: None
  • Jaylon Smith (practice squad): 4,808 snaps across 91 games in 6 years; 52.8 snaps per game and 15.1 games per year
  • Ryan Connelly (practice squad): 204 snaps across 31 games in 4 years; 6.6 snaps per game and 7.8 games per year
  • Anfernee Orji (practice squad): None

So there’s just two, maybe three linebackers you could say have much starting experience in the NFL. For his part, Morrow has played 3,505 snaps in 79 games across 5 years — averaging 44.4 snaps per game and 15.8 games per year. Unlike Smith, he’s also played a lot of snaps on special teams, which could give him a shorter road to a roster spot. If he’s willing to sign for the veteran minimum (as he did with Philadelphia), he could be a smart pickup. But the Saints have eight linebackers under contract right now and they just waived a ninth (Ty Summers) who could return after other moves are processed. They likely have other positions they feel a need to prioritize.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Dennis Allen comments on Jaylon Smith starting out on Saints’ practice squad

Dennis Allen commented on Jaylon Smith starting out on the Saints’ practice squad, conceding that ‘You only get 53 spots’ on the roster:

It’s been a tough week for the New Orleans Saints. Like every other team around the league, they’ve had to cut dozens of players from their roster and choose who to bring back for their practice squad. And one of those roster cuts stood out from the others, raising the ire of many Saints fans: Jaylon Smith.

The veteran linebacker impressed in preseason and was clearly the third-best player at the position in New Orleans behind the established starters Demario Davis and Pete Werner. But he was still released at the roster cuts deadline, later returning to the practice squad.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen acknowledged Smith’s accomplishments and value to the team after the linebacker returned, but demurred when asked why Smith didn’t make the cut for the roster to begin with. Allen had earlier said Smith would need to play special teams to make the cut, and when he didn’t do that in the preseason games he wound up being released.

“You only get 53 spots,” Allen conceded, “We’ve got 53 puzzle pieces and we’re trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. And there’s a lot of manipulation that goes along with that. I think it was a factor of trying to get the right 53, and who could we get on the practice squad.”

One advantage to — temporarily — cutting Smith was that he didn’t test the waiver wire thanks to his veteran status. The Saints were able to release him outright and later re-sign him to their practice squad without a hitch. Sure, other teams had the opportunity to sign him themselves, but they had all summer to do that. Smith and the Saints evidently agreed that his best fit was in New Orleans even if it’s in a reduced role.

There are other players the Saints may have wanted to hold onto but who would have hit waivers had they been released — including other linebackers like Zack Baun, Nephi Sewell, and D’Marco Jackson. If all of them are in the team’s plans this season, even if they’re limited to covering punts and kickoffs, it wouldn’t make sense to risk losing them when Smith was a safe bet for stashing on the practice squad. Teams still need to activate 48 of their 53 rostered players on game days and it does make more sense to keep guys in that number who can help in multiple phases. If the Saints need Smith to fill in for Demario Davis or Pete Werner in the event of an injury, he’ll be available for promotion.

Still, it’s a tough look to see Smith outplay Baun and not make the cut, just like it’s difficult to accept Tre’Quan Smith keeping a roster spot over Shaquan Davis or Jontre Kirklin. Whether it’s draft status or steps in a process we can’t fully see yet, the Saints made some roster moves that didn’t quite sit well with the fanbase. But if Allen’s team can just win games this year and get back to the playoffs it’ll all be nothing more than a distant memory.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Veteran LB Ryan Connelly returns to Saints practice after injury scare

Ryan Connelly was one of the stars of the Saints preseason, but an injury scare threatened his season. He recovered sooner than expected and is back on the practice squad:

Veteran linebacker Ryan Connelly was one of the stars of the New Orleans Saints preseason, but an injury scare threatened his season. He hurt his knee in the team’s second preseason game, which Saints head coach Dennis Allen described as a significant issue.

But he recovered sooner than expected and is back on the practice squad. Connelly worked out with his teammates at the Saints’ Wednesday practice session. Allen acknowledged Connelly’s swift return in his post-practice press conference with local media.

Allen said: “That’s part of the issue, is you start talking about injuries and there’s still a lot of evaluations and things of that nature that have to go through. It was obviously a lot better than we thought. He’s healthy, he was back out there practicing today.”

Connelly could be an important player for the team. He logged a ton of snaps in the kicking game and led the squad in tackles in their first preseason game, having taken most of the reps in Demario Davis’s spot at middle linebacker. He’s one of four linebackers on the practice squad right now, joining Jaylon Smith, Ty Summers, and undrafted rookie Anfernee Orji, but he could be a game-day elevation to reinforce the depth chart.

He first arrived in New Orleans on a reserve/future deal back in January, having spent the 2022 season on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. The New York Giants drafted Connelly back in 2019 (in the fifth round) out of Wisconsin, where he was college teammates with linebacker Zack Baun and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Jaylon Smith leads the group of linebackers on Saints’ practice squad

Jaylon Smith is staying with the Saints on the practice squad. New Orleans has more linebackers than any other position on the practice squad | @southexclusives

The New Orleans Saints walked away from roster cuts with the same linebackers they walked into training camp with. Demario Davis and Pete Werner are your starting linebackers who will play every snap essentially. Nephi Sewell and D’Marco Jackson are their backups.

Sewell and Jackson were able to retain their roster spot due to defined roles on special teams. Zach Baun is also a key contributor on special teams. In addition to that, he also plays a few snaps per game on the strong side when the Saints play the traditional 4-3 defense.

Jaylon Smith leads the charge of linebackers on the practice squad. If a starter were to go down, Smith would be an instant call up to the main roster. He didn’t make the team because of a lack of role on special teams. He’s joined by three other linebackers on the Saints practice squad:

New Orleans Saints announce initial 16-man practice squad

The New Orleans Saints announced their initial 16-man practice squad, which doesn’t include a couple of players reported to be signing:

The New Orleans Saints announced their initial 16-man practice squad, which doesn’t include a couple of players reported to be signing. What’s the deal with that? Rosters are very fluid this time of the year and the Saints are likely waiting to designate some players on the 53-man roster to injured reserve, so that they’ll have the opportunity to return to action later this season.

Or they could just be dragging their feet for other reasons. Whatever the case may be, the Saints have been credibly reported to be signing running backs Tony Jones Jr. (from the Denver Broncos) and Jordan Mims (from the Buffalo Bills) to their practice squad, but neither of them were listed in the team’s initial release. We’ll keep an eye out for confirmation on those fronts.

In the meantime, here is the group as it currently stands:

5 biggest Saints roster moves from the NFL cuts deadline

There were some surprising moves from Tuesday roster cut deadline. Here are the five biggest moves and what they mean for the Saints | @southexclusives

The NFL’s roster cuts deadline has passed, and the initial 53-man roster has been set. The New Orleans Saints are currently in the process of picking up players for the practice squad and some for the active roster. There were some shocking moves. Leave it to the roster cut deadline to create surprise. We take a look back at some of those surprising moves and the most impactful decisions. These are the five biggest decisions from the roster cut deadline ranked one to five.