Tag: Kiko Alonso

Major progress for Michael Thomas, Tyrann Mathieu in our Day 10 Saints camp takeaways

It was a busy day at Saints camp Day 10 with Michael Thomas and Tyrann Mathieu participating in team drills. Get caught up with our Saturday takeaways, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

The New Orleans Saints have wrapped up their 10th day week two of New Orleans Saints training camp is in the books throughout the last two weeks we’ve been treated to highlight moments roster moves and even surprise retirement. As the 10th day of camp wrapped up it was easy to see that the story of the day would be centered around the progress of two star players and the continued success of two standout defenders. Here are our key takeaways from day 10 of saints camp:

Former Duck linebacker Kiko Alonso retires from the NFL

Former Oregon linebacker Kiko Alonso signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints before retiring.

In a ceremonial move, Kiko Alonso signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints and then promptly retired, ending a six-year career in the NFL.

The former Oregon Duck linebacker was drafted in the second round by Buffalo in 2013, but unfortunately, he was hampered by a series of injuries. He missed the 2014 season and then moved on to Philadelphia where he was united with Chip Kelly.

But that reunion lasted just a season and Alonso moved to South Beach in Miami where he spent the next three seasons.

Alonso had his most productive years with the Dolphins (2016-18), he averaged almost 120 tackles, had five picks, and scored his only professional touchdown.

With his career seemingly on track, Alonso went to New Orleans. Unfortunately, he suffered a devastating knee injury in the Saints’ Wild Card loss at Minnesota in 2020.

After rehabbing for the better part of two seasons, Alonso had enough.

As a Duck, he had an integral part of the defense in 2011 and 2012 that helped Oregon win the Rose Bowl for the time since 1963 with a victory over Wisconsin. In that game, Alonso had a key interception in the second half of Russell Wilson, which set up a go-ahead score.

In his four seasons in Eugene, Alonso racked up 144 tackles and six interceptions.

Former Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso retires from the NFL

Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso retires from the NFL after signing with the New Orleans Saints

One of the critical assets used by the Eagles to move up in the 2016 NFL draft has walked away from the game, as Kiko Alonso has retired.

Brooke Kirchhofer of WWL-TV in New Orleans is reporting that the linebacker retired just one day after joining the Saints on a one-year deal.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen recently spoke about how productive Alonso can be when healthy, but it appears the former University of Oregon star had a change of heart.

Initially drafted in the second round of the 2013 draft, Alonso was acquired by the Eagles in 2015 when then head coach Chip Kelly infamously traded the franchise’s all-time rushing leader, LeSean McCoy, to the Bills.

Alonso was rehabbing from a partially torn ACL tear when traded and never returned to his pre-injury form for the Eagles.

Alonso was eventually traded to the Dolphins along with Byron Maxwell and the No. 13 pick in the 2016 NFL draft for the No. 8 overall pick.

Philadelphia would ultimately acquire the No. 2 pick from the Browns, and the team selected North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz with the pick.

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Kiko Alonso retires after first practice at Saints training camp

Kiko Alonso retires after first practice at Saints training camp

When you know, you know. Kiko Alonso hung up his cleats after his first practice at muggy, humid New Orleans Saints training camp on Friday, having returned to football after a three-year journey in recovering from a torn ACL. WWL TV’s Brooke Kirchhofer first reported that Alonso informed the team of his retirement, which was confirmed by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill on Saturday. It’s not too surprising given Alonso’s age (he’ll turn 32 on Aug. 14) and injury history. He knew it was his time.

So where do the Saints go from here? Dennis Allen recently spoke about the opportunity they gave Alonso, and the depth chart could still use another boost. They may need to sign another linebacker with rookie draft pick D’Marco Jackson on the mend with an undisclosed injury. Several other free agents tried out alongside Alonso this week, including Anthony Hitchens and Jon Bostic, sand it would make sense for one of them to end up signing with New Orleans. Stay tuned.

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Dennis Allen comments on Saints signing LB Kiko Alonso

Dennis Allen comments on Saints signing Kiko Alonso: “When he’s been healthy, he’s been a productive player in our league”

Some heads turned when the New Orleans Saints reunited with linebacker Kiko Alonso on Thursday — it’s unusual to bring in a player who hasn’t gotten on the field since 2019, weeks before his 32nd birthday, but Saints coach Dennis Allen shared some insight.

“We have some familiarity with the player, he did a nice job on his workout,” Allen said after practice on Friday. “He was in shape, looked good. And when he’s been healthy, he’s been a productive player in our league. And so, that was kind of what drew us to him.”

So they’re kicking the tires on a veteran who already knows the system, even if he’s been out of football for a few years recovering from a torn ACL. Alonso went down in the Saints’ 2019 playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings and started the 2020 season on the PUP list, only to be traded to the San Francisco 49ers in a salary cap dumping move that brought back Kwon Alexander, who played really well for New Orleans in 2020 and 2021, though he too missed time with an injury.

Still, it’s tough not to compare Alonso’s arrival in New Orleans just a week after the New York Jets signed Alexander to a one-year deal at the $1,120,000 veteran’s minimum salary, guaranteeing him just $580,000 with a meager $152,500 signing bonus. That’s likely close to what Alonso received, and is mighty affordable and should have been easy for the Saints to match, but they ultimately went in a different direction. We’ll see how it plays out.

It’s probably best not to make too much of this move. Pete Werner has the starting job next to Demario Davis sewn up, with backups like Kaden Elliss, Eric Wilson, Zack Baun, and Andrew Dowell in the mix behind them, as well as rookie draft pick D’Marco Jackson. Alonso faces long odds of making the roster. For now, his focus is on competing well enough in practice to make it through the first wave of roster cuts. Alonso wasn’t spotted at Saturday’s practice session so we’ll be looking for an update.

Update: WWL TV’s Brooke Kirchhofer reports that Alonso has chosen to retire after six seasons in the NFL following his practice at Saints camp on Friday.

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Saints expected to re-sign Kiko Alonso after group tryout

The New Orleans Saints are expected to re-sign Kiko Alonso after a group tryout including linebackers Anthony Hitchens and Jon Bostic:

Here’s a surprise reunion. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the New Orleans Saints are expected to re-sign Kiko Alonso after a group tryout on Thursday that included free agent linebackers Anthony Hitchens, Jon Bostic, and Chase Hansen, who also previously suited up for the Saints, per the daily NFL transactions wire. His signing was confirmed by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Alonso, who turns 32 in a few weeks, last played for the Saints in 2019 before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers (where he never played a down while recovering from a knee injury). A couple of years later he’s back in better health and looking for a comeback.

Alonso does bring a lot of NFL experience, which the Saints depth chart has been lacking. While Demario Davis is entrenched in the starting lineup, second-year pro Pete Werner is poised to start next to him with career backups Kaden Elliss and Zack Baun slotted in behind them. New Orleans must have wanted someone with more meaningful reps on the depth chart in case Davis or Werner miss time during the regular season, though it remains to be seen whether Alonso has anything left in the tank after three years out of pro football. Still, good for him to work hard and earn this opportunity.

With that said, this looks rough in light of Kwon Alexander’s signing with the New York Jets on the eve of training camp. The Saints traded Alonso to San Francisco in the first place as a salary-dumping move to acquire Alexander, who put together a very solid two-year run for New Orleans. But he and the team weren’t able to reach an agreement on a contract that would have led to a third year together, so he’ll be suiting up for his old coach Robert Saleh with the Jets this season. If the Saints had acted more aggressively to re-up Alexander, maybe they could have avoided this situation altogether.

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2022 NFL draft: Every player taken with 46th overall pick in last 10 years

What will the Vikings do with their first second-round draft pick in two years?

For the first time in two years, the Minnesota Vikings will finally be selecting a player in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Of course, that’s assuming general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn’t green light a trade that sends the pick to another team.

The Vikings haven’t had a second-round draft pick since taking offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland with the No. 58 overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft. Since being kicked to guard, Cleveland has been solid in his role along the offensive front.

So former general manager Rick Spielman must be commended for rebounding with that pick after biting the dust on cornerback Jeff Gladney in the first round.

There’s a ton of value to be had on Friday for the Vikings with the No. 46 overall pick. Whether Adofo-Mensah can find it or not remains to be seen.

Today, we’re listing the last 10 players taken with the No. 46 pick over the last decade.

49ers waive former Saints LB Kiko Alonso with failed physical designation

The San Francisco 49ers waived linebacker Kiko Alonso, who was recently acquired in a trade with the New Orleans Saints for Kwon Alexander.

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One former member of the New Orleans Saints is on the move. Veteran linebacker Kiko Alonso, acquired in a 2019 preseason trade with the Miami Dolphins and recently shipped to the San Francisco 49ers for linebacker Kwon Alexander, cleared waivers on Tuesday after being released by San Francisco on Monday, per the NFL daily transactions wire.

It’s the latest tough break for Alonso, who played well in New Orleans last season before tearing his ACL in January’s playoffs loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Alonso had already suffered a series of knee injuries before this and, while optimistic about his recovery during the long offseason, was unable to return to practice after being traded to the 49ers.

Alonso was not the only asset picked up by San Francisco in the trade. The Saints also traded a future fifth-round draft pick, which will be transferred in either 2021 or 2022 depending on how often Alexander plays for New Orleans this season. He saw 61% of snaps in his first game with the Saints (ironically against his old 49ers team) before logging 74% of snaps in last week’s win over the Atlanta Falcons, so he’s likely on track to meet those incentives.

So now they’ve waived him, and no other team chose to submit a waivers claim. Alonso is a free agent and eligible to sign with a new team once his knee has healed and he can pass a physical. But it appears he’ll be a long shot to play again in 2020.

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49ers waive LB acquired in Kwon Alexander trade

Kiko Alonso never got a chance to suit up for the 49ers after arriving from the Saints in the Kwon Alexander deal.

Linebacker Kiko Alonso was never likely to suit up for the 49ers this year after they acquired him and a fifth-round pick in the deal that sent linebacker Kwon Alexander to the Saints. The team on Monday made that official when they waived/failed physical Alonso.

The 30-year-old linebacker tore his ACL during the Saints’ playoff loss to the Vikings in January, and his chances of returning this season were not high. He was on the final year of his contract and his inclusion in the trade was more of a procedural move than one the 49ers made to try and get better this season.

Alonso began the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list and the last update head coach Kyle Shanahan gave was on Nov. 12 when he said the linebacker wouldn’t be in practice any time soon.

The Bills gave Alonso his start in the league as a second-round pick in the 2013 draft. He played in 86 games and posted 588 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 10 interceptions for Buffalo, Philadelphia, Miami and New Orleans.

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Traded to 49ers, former Saints LB Kiko Alonso (ACL) won’t play in 2020

Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Kiko Alonso has not recovered from an ACL injury, meaning he will not play for the San Francisco 49ers.

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The New Orleans Saints added a big upgrade to their linebacker corps by trading with the San Francisco 49ers for Kwon Alexander, swapping a future draft pick and injured veteran Kiko Alonso in exchange. Alonso had not been cleared to practice for the Saints since tearing his ACL back in January.

NBA Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported Tuesday that Alonso will remain on the PUP list after his practice window expired. He wasn’t able to return to work, so the year will end without him taking a single snap with his new team. For the curious, Alexander logged 43 snaps for the Saints in Sunday’s win over the 49ers, second-most among New Orleans’ linebackers.

It’s a really tough break for Alonso, who has suffered a series of knee injuries and is one of the most-traded players in NFL history. In 2015, the team that drafted him, the Buffalo Bills, traded Alonso to the Philadelphia Eagles. Philly traded him to the Miami Dolphins in 2016. New Orleans acquired him from Miami in a 2019 trade. And on Nov. 2, 2020, he was traded to San Francisco.

Maybe he can continue to heal up near his hometown of Los Gatos, Calif., just outside Santa Clara (where the 49ers now play at their still-new Levi’s Stadium). He’s headed for free agency in the spring, and might enjoy the opportunity to stay close to home if San Francisco is interested in re-signing him.

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