Tag: Kendal Vickers

John Ridgeway III could make his Saints debut in Week 2 vs. Cowboys

John Ridgeway III could make his Saints debut in Week 2 against the Cowboys. He has a shot at payback on the team that drafted him:

The New Orleans Saints are putting their final touches on Week 2’s game  plan for dealing with the Dallas Cowboys, and John Ridgway III might be a factor. The big defensive tackle was acquired in a trade with the Washington Commanders at the NFL roster cuts deadline but wasn’t active for the Saints’ season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers. Maybe his coaches wanted him to get another week of practice before activating him.

Instead, it was veteran backup Kendal Vickers coming up from the practice  squad for Week 1. Vickers rounded out the interior rotation with 21 snaps, just ahead of rookie draft pick Khristian Boyd (18), while trailing Bryan Bresee (36) and Nathan Shepherd (24). The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Vickers is better suited to games with a lot of throwing while Ridgeway figures to play more into run defense at a listed 6-foot-5, 321 pounds.

And the Cowboys fit that profile. They still attempted plenty of passes (35) against the Cleveland Browns last week, but they also leaned heavier on their run game than the Panthers did with 24 carries compared to Carolina’s 17. It could make more sense to go bigger in the middle especially now that Ridgeway has had more time to settle in.

So this could be an opportunity for payback on the team that drafted him. Ridgeway was selected by the Cowboys out of Arkansas in 2022’s fifth round but was waived that September, where Washington claimed him. He’s already played against his old Cowboys teammates a few times but only enjoyed a single win (26-6 in 2023’s regular season finale). Here’s hoping he has cause to celebrate on Sunday.

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Saints elevate two players from their practice squad for Week 1 vs. Panthers

The Saints elevated two players from their practice squad for Week 1’s game with the Panthers, but it may not be who you expect:

The New Orleans Saints elevated two players from their practice squad for Week 1’s game with the Carolina Panthers, but it may not be who you expect. It takes just a glance at the injury report to explain why they’re available for the season opener.

Linebacker Khaleke Hudson and defensive tackle Kendal Vickers are both eligible to play on Sunday. Veteran nose tackle Khalen Saunders has been ruled out with a calf injury, so it makes sense to bring Vickers up as reinforcement for Bryan Bresee, Nathan Shepherd, Khristian Boyd, and John Ridgway III.

Backup linebackers D’Marco Jackson (calf) and Jaylan Ford (hamstring) are also unavailable, while strong side linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (back) is questionable. Starting weakside linebacker Pete Werner (shoulder) practiced fully this week but was listed on the injury report all three days. Hudson can man multiple spots at the second level so it’s smart to have him ready if he’s needed.

What’s interesting is who wasn’t brought up for this game. Neither wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown nor safety Johnathan Abram are available for Week 1 despite an injury to A.T. Perry (hand; he’s questionable after missing the last two days of practice) and Abram having run with the starters for much of the summer. That suggests either Will Harris or Jordan Howden will start next to Tyrann Mathieu, while offensively Perry will either play or be supplanted by a rookie like Bub Means or Mason Tipton. Stay tuned.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Kyler Baugh is the Saints Player of Day 69

Countdown to Kickoff: Kyler Baugh is the New Orleans Saints Player of Day 69. The undrafted rookie has a tough road ahead, but he wouldn’t be the first to beat expectations

We’ve got 69 days to go until the New Orleans Saints open up their 2024 regular season, which makes the current owner of the No. 69 jersey our Saints Player of the Day. That’s rookie defensive lineman Kyler Baugh, so let’s get to know him better before diving into realistic goals for him in 2024:

  • Name (Age): Kyler Baugh (22)
  • Position: Defensive tackle
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 305 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 8.56
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $798,333
  • College: Minnesota
  • Drafted: Undrafted in 2024 (New Orleans Saints)
  • NFL experience: Rookie

The Saints signed Baugh as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota, guaranteeing just $25,000 in his rookie contract. For perspective, former Colorado tight end Dallin Holker led the team with $235,000 in guarantees. Baugh was a solid starter at Minnesota the last two years (where he was teammates with safety Jordan Howden, who the Saints drafted last year) but he’s facing a tough road to making the cut in New Orleans. He mainly ran with the second- and third-team defenses at spring practices. Linemen won’t be highlighted until full-contact practices in pads kick off at training camp later this summer.

So how can he make the team? The Saints lost Malcolm Roach in free agency and didn’t make a great effort at replacing him, signing former Las Vegas Raiders backup Kendal Vickers while drafting Khristian Boyd in the sixth round out of Northern Iowa. Jack Heflin is also in the mix after returning from the Saints’ 2023 practice squad. Baugh must prove he’s a better option to round out the Saints’ four-man rotation than any of those guys.

If he can hold up well in run defense while making the most of his opportunities on passing downs, Baugh could make a compelling case for a roster spot. The Saints have a great track record in recruiting and developing undrafted defensive tackles like Roach (2020), Shy Tuttle and Devaroe Lawrence (2019). Maybe Baugh can follow in their footsteps.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Kendal Vickers is the Saints Player of Day 91

Countdown to Kickoff: Kendal Vickers is the New Orleans Saints Player of Day 91. Can he outplay younger competition to win a roster spot?

We’re continuing our countdown to the 2024 season with each New Orleans Saints player to hold the corresponding jersey number — and with 91 days to go, it means we’re highlighting the current No. 91, defensive tackle Kendal Vickers. So what’s his story, and what are realistic goals for him in 2024? Let’s break it down:

  • Name (Age): Kendal Vickers (29)
  • Position: Defensive tackle
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 295 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 7.57
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $1,055,000
  • College: Tennessee
  • Drafted: Undrafted in 2018 (Pittsburgh Steelers)
  • NFL experience: 4 seasons

Vickers signed with the Saints after trying out at their rookie minicamp in May, along with a couple of other veteran free agents. He’s someone players on the roster know well from lining up against in the past at practice. He played college football at Tennessee with Alvin Kamara and the bulk of his pro experience came on the Las Vegas Raiders with Derek Carr. Before that he spent a couple years on practice squads around the league. He appeared in two games with the Buffalo Bills last season.

There’s room for one more player in the Saints’ defensive tackle rotation after Malcolm Roach left in free agency, so Vickers might have an easier path to making the roster than you may think. He’s primarily worked as a backup, having logged 603 defensive snaps in 27 games from 2020 to 2023, and that figures to be his role behind Nathan Shepherd, Bryan Bresee, and Khalen Saunders. Rookie draft pick Khristian Boyd is in the mix as well as Jack Heflin, who spent the 2023 season on New Orleans’ practice squad, so Vickers must outwork two young competitors over the summer to earn that spot on the 53-man roster.

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Saints shake up their depth chart at defensive tackle after rookie minicamp

The New Orleans Saints signed one of the free agent tryouts from their recent minicamp in former Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Kendal Vickers:

The New Orleans Saints signed one of the free agent tryouts from their recent rookie minicamp, former Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Kendal Vickers. Backup defensive tackle John Penisini was waived to open a roster spot for him. The Saints announced Vickers’ signing as well as the pickup of offensive lineman Lucas Patrick on Monday.

Vickers, 28, was college teammates with Alvin Kamara at Tennessee and has been in the NFL since 2018, making most of his appearances with the Raiders from 2020 to 2022 (alongside Derek Carr). He’s spent time with a couple of different teams over the years and entered the league as an undrafted free agent signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished the 2023 season with the Arizona Cardinals.

He joins a depth chart that includes Nathan Shepherd, Khalen Saunders, Bryan Bresee, Khristian Boyd, Jack Heflin, and Kyler Baugh. The Saints typically roster four defensive tackles and activate them all on game days while keeping a fifth in reserve on the practice squad in case of an injury. We’ll see who makes the cut after training camp this summer.

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PFF: 5 worst-graded Bills players on defense in Week 7

Day to forget to the #Bills defense:

The Buffalo Bills lost 29-25 to the New England Patriots in Week 7.

Following the game that was, here are the five worst-graded Bills players on defense from the outing against the Patriots according to Pro Football Focus:

PFF: 5 worst-graded Bills players on defense in Week 5

PFF: 5 worst-graded #Bills players on defense in Week 5:

The Buffalo Bills lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 25-20, in Week 5.

Following the game that was, here are the five worst-graded Bills players on defense from the outing against the Jaguars according to Pro Football Focus:

39 days until it is football time in Tennessee

Countdown to the 2023 season: 39 days until it is football time in Tennessee

Tennessee will kick off its 2023 football season in 39 days.

Kendal Vickers wore jersey No. 39 at Tennessee. He played defensive line for the Vols from 2013-17.

Vickers appeared in 43 games at Tennessee, recording 108 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

The Vols will kick off its 2023 season Sept. 2 versus Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is slated for noon EDT and ABC will televise the contest.

Tennessee’s home schedule has contests against Austin Peay, UTSA, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UConn, Georgia and Vanderbilt.

The Vols’ road schedule features games at Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Missouri.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel.

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Kendal Vickers signs with Buffalo

Former Vol Kendal Vickers signs with Buffalo.

Former Vol Kendal Vickers signed with Buffalo.

Vickers will be part of the Bills’ practice squad two days after he was released by Las Vegas.

The former Vol played three seasons with the Raiders, making two starts.

Vickers missed Las Vegas’ last three games due to a back injury.

He appeared in seven contests this season, recording four tackles and six assists. Vickers last played for Las Vegas against Indianapolis Nov. 13.

Vickers played for the Vols from 2014-17 after redshirting in 2013.

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Raiders release DT Kendal Vickers, sign DT Kyle Peko to active roster off practice squad

Raiders swap out defensive tackles

The Raiders swapped out a couple interior defensive linemen Tuesday. They released Kendal Vickers and replaced him with Kyle Peko off their practice squad.

Vickers had missed the past three games with a back injury. In his absence, the team has elevated Peko from the practice squad.

They must have liked what they have seen from Peko and opted to make it official.

Vickers was in his third season with the Raiders, appearing in 25 games with two starts.

The journeyman Peko was signed this offseason as a free agent and didn’t make the team out of camp. He was signed to the practice squad and has seen action in three games this season with three combined tackles (one solo).

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