Tag: Keivarae Russell

Notre Dame’s top-rated running back recruits since 2000

What would happen if Notre Dame’s recruiting of the running back position could meet what it does on the offensive line?

Notre Dame has long been known for fielding a solid running game on an annual basis. [autotag]Jerome Bettis[/autotag], [autotag]Ricky Watters[/autotag], [autotag]Reggie Brooks[/autotag], [autotag]Ray Zellars[/autotag], [autotag]Autry Denson[/autotag] and [autotag]Allen Pinkett[/autotag] come to mind from yesteryear. Stars [autotag]Kyren Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Josh Adams[/autotag] and [autotag]Theo Riddick[/autotag] wowed crowds over the last decade.

It’s been a long time however since Notre Dame has brought in what would be considered top-tier talent at the position with regularity. Sure, Adams, [autotag]Tony Jones, Jr[/autotag] and some others have earned NFL paychecks over the last decade, it’s been a long while since Notre Dame produced Julius Jones, the last Irish running back to be more than simply a role-playing back in the NFL. Perhaps Williams will change that with the Rams, but time will only tell.

So what has Notre Dame’s recruiting at running back looked like the last two-plus decades?

Here are the top 30 Notre Dame running back recruits since 2000 according to 247Sports. It is worth noting some of these players wound up changing positions once getting to South Bend.

Saints release two players amid post-draft roster moves

The Saints released two players amid post-draft roster moves, letting go of DT Jalen Dalton and CB KeiVarae Russell to pursue roster size compliance:

We knew that some roster moves were in store for the New Orleans Saints after they selected five rookies and signed seventeen more of them after the 2022 NFL draft, putting the offseason roster above the 90-man limit, but it’s still tough to see some guys be released this early in the offseason.

The Saints reported the release of defensive tackle Jalen Dalton and cornerback KeiVarae Russell on Tuesday’s update to the NFL waiver wire, getting them closer to roster size compliance. New Orleans still needs to let two or three more players go before they’ll be fully compliant, so this is just a first step in a difficult process.

Dalton in particular felt like someone with a chance to make the team. He turned in two very strong training camp performances with the Saints the last two years only to see each campaign end early with biceps injuries. Sure, New Orleans loaded up with more depth at the position through signing veterans like Kentavius Street and Jaleel Johnson and spending a late-round draft pick on Jordan Jackson. But there were enough flashes from Dalton in the past to suggest he could go the distance if healthy.

As for Russell: the Saints had more cornerbacks (9) than almost any other position group, so some departures were expected. He spent most of the 2021 season on New Orleans’ practice squad alongside Jordan Miller and Dylan Mabin, who are both still around, primarily playing special teams when he was called up on game days. That’s another position where the Saints are flush with depth after retaining Bradley Roby and drafting Alontae Taylor in the second round.

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Saints bring up three players from practice squad in last-minute roster moves

Saints bring up three players from practice squad in last-minute roster moves

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The New Orleans Saints brought up three players from their practice squad before their prime-time game with the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving, while also bringing back a player they previously released. But one name you won’t see on the field is wide receiver Malcolm Perry, the former Naval Academy quarterback-turned-Dolphins and Patriots receiver who signed with their practice squad this week. He needs more time to get game-ready.

Here’s what you need to know:

Saints re-sign Kevin White and Ken Crawley, send two others to injured reserve

Saints re-sign Kevin White and Ken Crawley, send two to injured reserve

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Tuesday’s update to the New Orleans Saints injury report included a couple of roster moves, with two young players going on injured reserve: tight end Adam Trautman, recovering from a knee injury, and left tackle Landon Young, who is expected to undergo season-ending foot surgery.

And a couple of players who were let go last week in wide receiver Kevin White and cornerback Ken Crawley. Let’s run through the list:

KeiVarae Russell returns to Saints practice, rookie Bryce Thompson waived

The New Orleans Saints welcomed CB KeiVarae Russell back to practice from COVID-19 reserve, while rookie safety Bryce Thompson was waived:

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We’ve got to take the latest news out of New Orleans Saints practice with the good and the bad. Let’s start with the positive: backup cornerback KeiVarae Russell made his return from the COVID-19 reserve list after spending two weeks out of action (he hadn’t been spotted at practice since Aug. 9), adding some much-needed competition to the bottom of the depth chart and on the special teams units.

However, the Saints lost a promising rookie. Sean Payton announced after practice that rookie safety Bryce Thompson was waived with an injury designation after getting hurt in Monday’s preseason game with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He’ll revert to injured reserve upon clearing waivers, so his year is done. We’ll see if the Saints release him with an injury settlement or hang onto him for another run next year, as they’ve done so far with rookie tight end Dylan Soehner.

We’ll see what other roster moves the Saints have in store once the daily NFL transactions wire updates Thursday afternoon. They tried out five free agents on Wednesday (three tight ends and two defensive linemen) but it hasn’t been reported yet whether any of them were signed. And we aren’t out of the woods yet with the kicker situation after Aldrick Rosas shanked an extra-point attempt against Jacksonville. Keep an eye out for any changes.

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Saints designate CB KeiVarae Russell to COVID-19 reserve list

Saints designate CB KeiVarae Russell to COVID-19 reserve list

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The New Orleans Saints will be without cornerback KeiVarae Russell, who signed with the team early in training camp after a successful free agent workout. He will go on the COVID-19 reserve list after testing positive, Saints coach Sean Payton said Tuesday. It’s unclear whether Russell was vaccinated or if he asymptomatic; either way, he’ll have to stay away from the team for at least 10 days.

The cornerbacks group is rapidly thinning out. Prince Amukamara was released after the Saints’ first preseason game, not long after Patrick Robinson unexpectedly retired from the NFL. Adonis Alexander, signed after a group workout with Amukamara and Russell, has missed several practices with an injury.

So that leaves Marshon Lattimore as the team’s only locked-in starter at cornerback. Ken Crawley has had a surprisingly strong summer and is the favorite to start across from him, though rookie draft pick Paulson Adebo has rapidly gained ground. Beyond those three, the only other healthy corners on the roster are Grant Haley, Brian Poole, and undrafted rookie Lawrence Woods, who the team waived once already. Defensive back P.J. Williams has mostly played safety in camp this year and only recently returned to practice.

Here’s to a quick recovery for Russell. In the meantime, the Saints should continue to look into all options for adding another cornerback, whether that means scouring the waiver wire or calling other teams about a trade. It’s tough to feel too confident about the group as things currently stand.

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Report: Saints expect to sign pair of cornerbacks following free agent tryouts

The New Orleans Saints expect to sign free agent cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and KeiVarae Russell following tryouts, ESPN reports:

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There’s the additions to the secondary fans have been calling for. The New Orleans Saints hosted a group of free agent cornerbacks for workouts on Sunday, and ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports two of them expect to be signed, if their physicals check out: Prince Amukamara and KeiVarae Russell.

Amukamara, 32, has started 99 of the 113 regular season games he’s played in the NFL. He joined the Las Vegas Raiders for training camp last summer but didn’t make it through roster cuts, instead landing on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad for most of the 2020 season. The bulk of his career has been spent with the New York Giants (55 games) and Chicago Bears (44 games), plus a one-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He should immediately compete with Patrick Robinson for No. 2 corner responsibilities in New Orleans, though younger teammates like second-team corner Ken Crawley and third-string rookie Paulson Adebo could still climb the depth chart. Amukamara has intercepted 10 passes in his career while knocking down 78 targets into his coverage, so he’s got some ball skills.

And Russell, 27, is a career special teams player who has dressed for 21 regular season games since being drafted in 2016 by the Kansas City Chiefs. K.C. waived him that same year and he landed with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he stuck around until joining the Green Bay Packers in 2020. Including two playoff games with Green Bay last year, he’s totaled 214 snaps in the kicking game against 184 reps on defense in his career. Look for him to compete for Justin Hardee Sr.’s vacant job covering punts and kickoffs.

With some vacancies to fill at the position and a few other players away from the team — Patrick Robinson and Grant Haley missed practice this week while dealing with deaths in their families — it makes sense for the Saints to bring in more help. It remains to be seen who the Saints will release to make room for these two new additions (adding Devonta Freeman put them at the 90-man capacity), but here are all of the corners currently under contract:

  • Marshon Lattimore
  • Patrick Robinson
  • P.J. Williams
  • Ken Crawley
  • Keith Washington Jr.
  • Grant Haley
  • Brian Poole
  • Paulson Adebo (rookie)
  • Lawrence Woods (rookie)

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WR Laquon Treadwell, 3 others trying out for Jags as mandatory minicamp starts

The Jags have brought in four players to try out as they start minicamp, including Vikings former first-round pick Laquon Treadwell.

Mandatory minicamp kicked off for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday. With that, they decided to bring in four tryout players, including receiver Laquon Treadwell, a former first-round selection for the Minnesota Vikings.

Also joining Treadwell as tryout players were cornerbacks Simeon Thomas and KeiVarae Russell, as well as offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins.

After being drafted out of Ole Miss, Treadwell spent four seasons with the Vikings (2016-19). While there he was able to accumulate 65 catches for 701 yards, and two touchdowns.

Afterward, he spent a season with the Atlanta Falcons but was only able to accumulate six catches for 49 yards and two touchdowns after spending most of his time there on the team’s practice squad.

Thomas, who was drafted in 2018 by the Cleveland Browns (pick No. 188), last played for the Washington Football Team (2019-20). He participated in a total of 12 games with them and accumulated eight tackles. He also spent time on the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad in 2018.

Russell is a journeyman who has been in the league since 2016 as he was a third-round pick for Kansas City. Afterward, he made numerous stops, playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers (practice squad only), New York Giants, and most recently the Green Bay Packers (2020).

While with the Packers, he started things off on practice squad, but was promoted to the game-day roster Week 10 against the Jags and reverted to practice squad the following week. He also appeared in both of Green Bay’s postseason games last season.

Hawkins, who plays offensive tackle, was drafted by the Steelers in 2016 (pick No. 123) and remained with the team until 2018. He also spent time with the Tampa Bay Bucs and Houston Texans afterward (during the offseason). In September of last season, the Texans put him on their practice squad, and the Steelers eventually signed him from the unit. He comes to Jags minicamp with 19 appearances and a start to his name.

Packers release CB KeiVarae Russell

The Packers released 27-year-old cornerback KeiVarae Russell on Monday.

The Green Bay Packers opened up a spot on the 90-man roster by releasing cornerback KeiVarae Russell on Monday.

Russell, who joined the Packers during the 2020 season, appeared in three total games last season, including both playoff games.

The Packers added a pair of cornerbacks during the 2021 NFL draft, including first-round pick Eric Stokes, likely erasing opportunities for a fringe roster player like Russell to make the team.

Russell, 27, was originally a third-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016. He has played in 21 career regular-season games, including a seven-snap appearance for the Packers in Week 10 against the Jaguars. Russell was on the field for 25 special teams snaps in the two playoff games.

It’s possible the Packers released Russell to clear a roster spot for quarterback Donald Hammond III, who is working out for the team this week.

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Irish in the NFL: Chargers sign cornerback KeiVarae Russell

The Los Angeles Chargers signed former Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback KeiVarae Russell to their practice squad.

The Los Angeles Chargers signed former Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive back KeiVarae Russell to their practice squad on Tuesday.

Russell starred at Notre Dame for three seasons, missing the 2014 season with an injury but returning his senior year to record 48 solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

That was enough for him to get picked in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Chiefs – but not enough for him to stick with them, as he was released in September of that year.

He caught on with the Bengals and appeared in 20 games with them over the last three seasons, recording one interception, two passes defended and 17 solo tackles as a backup defensive back and a special teams contributor.

Cincinnati cut him just before the start of the 2019 season however, and he has remained without a team until Los Angeles signed him on Tuesday.

The former Irish cornerback will have a long road ahead of him to make it onto LA’s active roster, but at least he’s back in the NFL for now.

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