Tag: Jimmy Graham

Saints’ worst offensive players through Week 10, per PFF

It’s no secret that the New Orleans Saints’ strengths are not in their offense, and the player grades at Pro Football Focus reflect that. Here are the 10 lowest:

It’s no secret that the New Orleans Saints’ strengths are not in their offense. Derek Carr’s unit has underperformed this season and struggled with everything from an abundance of false start penalties to poorly-run routes and lapses in pass protection. It’s been a problem through ten games.

And the Saints player grades at Pro Football Focus reflect that. Here are the 10 lowest-graded players at the bye week:

Just two Saints players miss practice on first injury report vs. Bears

Just two Saints players missed practice on the first injury report for Week 9’s game against the Bears:

The New Orleans Saints listed a lot of players on their first Week 9 injury report, but just two of them didn’t practice on Wednesday: linebacker Ty Summers (concussion/hamstring) and wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. (illness). Everyone else was able to participate in at least a limited capacity ahead of Sunday’s game with the Chicago Bears.

Including Michael Thomas (rest/illness), who is still feeling the effects of a virus that has made its way through the facility over the last week. Thomas practiced on limited reps along with offensive linemen James Hurst (ankle), Andrus Peat (ankle), and Ryan Ramczyk, who was given his usual veteran rest day along with tight end Jimmy Graham. Quarterback Taysom Hill (hip) and linebacker Demario Davis (knee) were both limited as well, though free safety Marcus Maye (illness) practiced fully while receiving treatment.

Here is Wednesday’s full injury report from both teams:

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Saints dodge disaster with only one player out due to illness

The Saints had five players hit the injury report this week due to illness sweeping the facility, but only one of them (Jimmy Graham) was inactive Sunday:

There has been an illness going around the New Orleans Saints facility ahead of their game versus the Indianapolis Colts this week. It has run so rampant that it’s even went beyond just the players with head coach Dennis Allen gutting it out. Alvin Kamara battled the illness early in the week and was able to be taken off the injury report before Friday. The rest of the team wasn’t so fortunate.

On the final injury report, New Orleans had three players listed as questionable due to illness: Marcus Maye, Max Garcia and Jimmy Graham. Michael Thomas was also added to this list on Saturday, bringing the total to four Saints questionable due to illness. Despite the illness running through the locker room, Jimmy Graham is the only player who will miss the game due to illness.

Time will tell how impacted the players’ performance will be due to lingering effects of the illness, but they will be on the field. The Saints won’t have to deal with major holes at running back, wide receiver, safety or left guard, and that is a win. Hopefully everyone is able to play through what’s ailing them and help the team come away with a victory.

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Saints report inactive players for Week 8 vs. Colts

9 of the Saints’ 10 questionable players will suit up against the Colts on Sunday. Here is the full inactive report:

The New Orleans Saints’ final injury report ahead of this game against the Indianapolis Colts had a whopping nine players listed as questionable. Michael Thomas also received a questionable designation Saturday evening, bringing the total to 10 players listed as questionable, but 9 of them will play — everyone but tight end Jimmy Graham. Thomas and three other players including Graham were dealing with this illness that is moving through the Saints locker room.

The only player to be ruled out  before the game was offensive lineman James Hurst. The Colts, however, already ruled out three players on the final injury report.

Here is the full list of players who will be inactive for both teams in Week 8:

The Saints’ initial Week 8 injury report isn’t as bad as it looks

The Saints’ initial Week 8 injury report isn’t as bad as it looks. They listed a dozen players, but just one wasn’t able to practice due to injury:

Go ahead and file this one under “Unfortunate Headlines,” but it’s true: the New Orleans Saints’ initial Week 8 injury report isn’t as bad as it looks. The Saints listed a dozen players on Wednesday’s injury report after practice, but just one of them wasn’t able to practice due to injury (offensive lineman James Hurst, who hurt his ankle two games ago). They should have plenty of hands on deck for Sunday’s game with the Indianapolis Colts.

Running back Alvin Kamara was the only other non-participant, but he was held out due to an illness and should return later this week. Players who had been sidelined at practice for weeks like tight end Juwan Johnson (calf), safety J.T. Gray (hamstring), and offensive tackle Landon Young (hip) all worked on a limited basis.

Veterans including right tackle Ryan Ramczyk (concussion), safeties Tyrann Mathieu (foot) and Marcus Maye (hamstring), quarterback Taysom Hill (chest) plus tight end Jimmy Graham (who as a given his typical Wednesday rest day) were all limited, too. Rookie running back Kendre Miller (shoulder) received treatment but practiced fully.

All told the week’s first injury report could be much worse. We’ll watch it closely in the days ahead to see who is cleared for more reps. See for yourself:

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Saints say Juwan Johnson is questionable to return vs. Bucs with calf injury

Saints say Juwan Johnson is questionable to return vs. Bucs with calf injury

This is concerning. Starting tight end Juwan Johnson left the New Orleans Saints’ game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early on their opening drive with what the team described as a calf injury, announcing that he was questionable to return. Johnson had not been listed on the injury report each week with a calf issue but he did receive treatment for it during preseason.

That meant Jimmy Graham was the only remaining option at tight end; Foster Moreau was ruled out with an injury of his own, and the Saints did not activate either of their practice squad tight ends (Tommy Hudson and Michael Jacobson) prior to kickoff. They could also line up quarterback Taysom Hill and fullback Adam Prentice inline at tight end, but Graham figures to take the most snaps in Johnson’s absence.

Update: Johnson was later downgraded and ruled out from returning.

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Video shows a Saints player hilariously tried to block a Packers field goal using the long-snapper’s towel

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

On Sunday, the NFL had several “Are you kidding me?” type of moments, and the New Orleans Saints hilariously attempted to block a Green Bay Packers field goal with a long snapper’s towel so they wouldn’t be left out.

The Saints were in firm control of the game. Tight end Jimmy Graham scored an early touchdown, followed by a Rashid Shaheed 76-yard punt return. They even added a field goal from their rookie, Blake Grupe, to go up 17-0 at halftime. Life was grand.

Then, the Packers put together a drive that wasn’t enough for a touchdown, but they could get something positive out of it. Kicker Anders Carlson lined up for the attempt and followed through.

It was a routine scoring play until a unique viewpoint captured an object flying in the air, attempting to block the kick.

Video replay shows that the object in question was a towel. New Orleans Defensive Tackle Brian Bresee snatched it off the hip of Green Bay long snapper Matt Orzech and promptly threw it into the air to stop Carlson’s kick.

Wild.

Bresee gets an “A” for innovation and effort. I can’t say I would have thought that quickly at the moment to do that.

WATCH: Jimmy Graham scores touchdown in return to Green Bay

WATCH: Jimmy Graham scores touchdown catch in return to Green Bay

The New Orleans Saints brought back fan-favorite tight end Jimmy Graham in a surprise move this offseason, it pays off against the Green Bay Packers as Graham hauls in a touchdown in the Week 3 game.

This is Graham’s first touchdown in the NFL since Week 16 of the 2021 season and his first as a Saint since way back in Week 16 of 2014 against the Atlanta Falcons. The now 37-year old tight end was a member of the Packers in 2018 and 2019, so scoring touchdowns in Lambeau Field is a familiar feeling.

He hasn’t had much of a role in the offense this season, but with Foster Moreau out he finds the field in the first quarter. The Saints offense has had some trouble in the redzone this year, so the big target being matched up against a cornerback was a welcome site for Derek Carr.

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Former Saints Pro Bowl center Max Unger nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Saints Pro Bowl center Max Unger has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility:

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its list of 173 modern-era nominees for its 2024 class on Tuesday, and one former New Orleans Saints player was brought up as a first-time honoree in his first year of eligibility: Max Unger.

Unger, 37, retired on his own terms after the 2018 season having accomplished a lot in the NFL. Before joining the Saints in the landmark 2015 Jimmy Graham trade, Unger earned All-Pro recognition and two Pro Bowl trips with the Seattle Seahawks — with whom he also won a Super Bowl ring. He played at a high level in New Orleans and was selected for a third Pro Bowl appearance in 2018, his last year in the league before choosing to hang up his cleats.

So does he have a real chance at earning a bronze bust in Canton? Unger is a long shot. Just seven centers have been inducted to the Hall of Fame, and Pro Football Reference research found on average they’ve logged five All-Pro teams and eight Pro Bowl appearances. That’s a very high bar which Unger doesn’t quite meet.

He isn’t the only former Saints player on this year’s list of nominees, though. Unger’s old teammate Jahri Evans is returning for another shot after he reached the semifinalist stage last season. With Drew Brees eligible for Hall of Fame induction in 2026, there’s a good chance one of his former blockers will be waiting for him in Canton.

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Saints sign 6-foot-7 college basketball player-turned-tight end Michael Jacobson

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but the New Orleans Saints added a 6-foot-7 college basketball player who has hopes of making it in the NFL as a tight end:

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but the New Orleans Saints signed a 6-foot-7 college basketball player who has hopes of making it in the NFL as a tight end. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that the Saints signed power forward-turned-tight end Michael Jacobson to their practice squad.

He’s not going to be mistaken for Jimmy Graham, but there’s no doubt that Jacobson has potential. The Seattle Seahawks recruited him into their 2021 training camp and coached him up as a tight end, which he hadn’t played since high school while focusing on basketball. He initially hung around on Seattle’s practice squad to start the season, but they released him on Sept. 25 and the Indianapolis Colts picked him up a few days later. He was with the Colts until final roster cuts this summer.

We’ll see if Jacobson can cut the mustard in New Orleans after two other teams gave him a shot. He’s got all of the athletic ability needed to succeed at a listed 6-foot-7 and 244 pounds, but it’ll be of no help if he can’t block or catch passes. With the depth chart set at tight end between Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, and Jimmy Graham (with Taysom Hill cameoing here and there), don’t expect Jacobson to see a lot of game-time.

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