Tag: Kirk Merritt

Saints dress out just two running backs vs. Falcons, setting up a big day for Taysom Hill

The Saints dressed out just two running backs against the Falcons, setting up a big day for Alvin Kamara, David Johnson and maybe Taysom Hill:

So this is an interesting strategy. The New Orleans Saints inactive list included half of their depth chart at running back for Week 15’s game with the Atlanta Falcons — backups Dwayne Washington and Eno Benjamin were both sidelined, leaving just Alvin Kamara and David Johnson active on Sunday. Washington wasn’t able to practice this week while dealing with an illness, whereas Benjamin was acquired off of waivers and saw just two practices with the team before kickoff.

That suggests a heavy workload for Kamara, right? The Saints haven’t gotten the most out of him this season, stubbornly running him into the teeth of opposing defenses and weirdly cutting down on the number of screen plays in each week’s game plan. Kamara and his coaches talked about the need for more creativity this week (or at least more of what he’s done well in the past), but we’ll see if they seize this opportunity.

But there might be other solutions than just running Kamara until he can’t run anymore. Nominal tight end Taysom Hill has seen more rushing attempts against the Falcons (42 in 11 games) in his career than against any other team, and his usage has also trailed off in recent weeks. This is a chance for him to reassert himself as a playmaker that their stalled-out offense could really use. He’s had success against Atlanta before, posting single-game rushing totals of 83, 81, and 49 yards. He’s also scored 4 touchdown runs on the Falcons defense in past matchups.

Fullback Adam Prentice is also active for this game, so he’s an option, though the Saints rarely ask him to handle the ball — his first rushing attempt this season came in their last game, gaining 2 yards on 3rd-and-1 midway through the third quarter. New Orleans brought up wide receiver Kirk Merritt from their practice squad, too. He’s cross-trained at running back with them and saw some carries in their preseason games.

Still, it feels like Kamara will again see the lion’s share of snaps in the backfield. Hopefully the Saints can do a better job of putting him in position to make a play.

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Saints file a series of roster moves before kickoff vs. Falcons in Week 15

The Saints filed a series of last-minute roster moves before kickoff against the Falcons, calling up WR Kirk Merritt and activating several players from injured reserve:

The New Orleans Saints filed a series of last-minute roster moves before kickoff in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons, calling up wide receiver Kirk Merritt from the practice squad and sending linebacker Zack Baun to the injured reserve list. Here’s what you need to know about each transaction:

Saints call up WR Kirk Merritt, TE Lucas Krull in a series of last-minute roster moves

Saints call up WR Kirk Merritt, TE Lucas Krull in a series of last-minute roster moves before Monday night kickoff vs. Bucs

Kickoff between the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is just hours away, prompting a series of last-minute roster moves as the Saints bring all hands on deck. Here’s what you need to know about each transaction:

Saints fear ‘significant’ turf toe injury for WR Deonte Harty

Saints fear ‘significant’ turf toe injury for returns specialist Deonte Harty

There’s bad news for Deonte Harty. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reported that Harty was diagnosed with a turf toe injury after exiting Sunday’s win against the Seattle Seahawks, and it might end his season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds that Harty will receive a second opinion on the injury, but it’s believed he’ll be facing a months-long recovery.

If that’s the case, it sounds like a similar injury to what rookie left tackle Trevor Penning suffered in the preseason, which has sidelined him until at least November. It’s a really tough break for Harty in a contract year. He hasn’t found much success on special teams (returning 3 punts for 8 yards, and 6 kicks for 137 yards, an average of 22.8 yards per kick return) or offense (catching 2 receptions for 13 yards), but it’s not for lack of trying — if anything, he’s been trying too hard to make something out of nothing. Hopefully his injury isn’t as severe as feared and he’s able to return to good health soon.

So how do the Saints adjust without him? It probably isn’t sustainable to keep asking Taysom Hill to return kicks, entertaining as that has been; Jarvis Landry and Marquez Callaway have helped field punts, but neither has been particularly effective in the role. The only other Saints player to return kicks in the preseason was wide receiver Kirk Merritt and running back Tony Jones Jr., who was waived Saturday and could re-sign with the practice squad.

But the smart pick may be Rashid Shaheed. The undrafted rookie out of Weber State was unavailable for most of the season while recovering from an ACL injury but he brings an impressive college resume with a school record in kickoff return yards per try (29.1) and the all-time FCS record for kickoff return touchdowns (7). He’s the only player in school history to earn All-American recognition four times, largely for his efforts in the return game. If he’s healthy, he should get called up from the practice squad to try his hand on special teams.

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Kirk Merritt changes jersey number to represent his Destrehan hometown

Kirk Merritt’s reasoning behind changing his number from 85 to 33 is about more than position designation, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

Jersey number changes are far from out of the ordinary nowadays in the NFL, especially with the expansion of numbers allowed at several positions. But some of the changes carry with them a specific sentiment or deeper meaning. That’s the case for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kirk Merritt.

Merritt, who quickly became a fan-favorite in New Orleans throughout training camp, changed his number ahead of Week 1 from No. 85 to 33. Some would speculate that this was connected to the versatile offensive player getting work at running back during the final week of camp. Switching from No. 85, a number often worn by wide receivers and tight ends, to No. 33, a number often donned by running backs, certainly helps to back that theory. Wide receivers can wear No. 33 after the NFL relaxed those restrictions so this doesn’t precede a real position switch, but for Merritt it’s deeper than that.

The former undrafted free agent is a Destrehan, La. native. Before playing out his college career with the Oregon Ducks and Arkansas State Red Wolves, he starred at with Destrehan High School where he wore No. 33. Merritt has the unique experience of playing for his childhood favorite team in the stadium just 22 miles east of his hometown. And he’ll do so wearing the number he sported while racking up 1,058 scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns his senior year.

Merritt has landed on the practice squad with the Saints. But to assume that he’ll see live action during the 2022 season is far from farfetched. His versatile play style and ability to contribute from multiple areas of the game have increased the eyes on his here in the Big Easy — the Saints cross-trained him at running back over the summer and worked him into several special teams units. Now, he’s wearing the number that started it all.

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Kirk Merritt changes jersey number to represent his Destrehan hometown

Kirk Merritt’s reasoning behind changing his number from 85 to 33 is about more than position designation, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

Jersey number changes are far from out of the ordinary nowadays in the NFL, especially with the expansion of numbers allowed at several positions. But some of the changes carry with them a specific sentiment or deeper meaning. That’s the case for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kirk Merritt.

Merritt, who quickly became a fan-favorite in New Orleans throughout training camp, changed his number ahead of Week 1 from No. 85 to 33. Some would speculate that this was connected to the versatile offensive player getting work at running back during the final week of camp. Switching from No. 85, a number often worn by wide receivers and tight ends, to No. 33, a number often donned by running backs, certainly helps to back that theory. Wide receivers can wear No. 33 after the NFL relaxed those restrictions so this doesn’t precede a real position switch, but for Merritt it’s deeper than that.

The former undrafted free agent is a Destrehan, La. native. Before playing out his college career with the Oregon Ducks and Arkansas State Red Wolves, he starred at with Destrehan High School where he wore No. 33. Merritt has the unique experience of playing for his childhood favorite team in the stadium just 22 miles east of his hometown. And he’ll do so wearing the number he sported while racking up 1,058 scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns his senior year.

Merritt has landed on the practice squad with the Saints. But to assume that he’ll see live action during the 2022 season is far from farfetched. His versatile play style and ability to contribute from multiple areas of the game have increased the eyes on his here in the Big Easy — the Saints cross-trained him at running back over the summer and worked him into several special teams units. Now, he’s wearing the number that started it all.

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Taco Charlton, 3 linebackers make the Saints’ initial 15-man practice squad

Taco Charlton, three linebackers made the Saints’ initial 15-man practice squad after roster cuts. But there’s one vacancy left to fill:

There it is: the New Orleans Saints announced their 15-strong practice squad on Wednesday, but it’s important to remember how much of a work-in-progress this will be. For the first point, there’s still one vacancy left to fill. Some players will be swapped out for others in the days and weeks ahead, but many of these names are already familiar to Saints fans — and about half of them were previously reported as having re-signed with New Orleans following Tuesday’s roster cuts.

Let’s run through the group position-by-position:

Saints waive Destrahan native WR Kirk Merritt

Kirk Merritt did not make the Saints initial 53-man roster, but he could still suit up for New Orleans, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

The New Orleans Saints 53-man roster continues to take shape ahead of the 3 p.m. CT deadline. Per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, Destrehan native and wide receiver Kirk Merritt is a part of the latest cuts. It was widely believed that Merritt had a shot at making the 53-man roster and though he’s not on the initial list, it’s not over for Merritt just yet.

The wide receiver had some highlight moments throughout this offseason. He had several big catches in camp, executed a 59-yard kick return against the Green Bay Packers and even got some run at running back in the closing week of camp. He would follow up that closing week by catching a touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Saints preseason finale.

Merritt caught 6 of his 8 passing targets for 40 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. His time with New Orleans may not be over after an impressive showings in both practice and game action. Incumbent wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith suffered what looked like a painful shoulder injury on a diving catch attempt during Friday’s action against the Chargers. If his injury is severe enough that the Saints will look to place Smith on injured reserve (IR), he’ll have to make the initial roster first in order to have a chance to return during the 2022 season.

If that ends up being the case, Merritt or another fellow local product Dai’Jean Dixon of Nicholls State look like two wide receivers that could get the call not just for the practice squad, but for the active roster. For Merritt, his ability to show the multiple ways he could contribute is his strongest asset. Something the New Orleans Saints and head coach Dennis Allen do not take for granted.

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Saints face tough decision with WR Kirk Merritt

Kirk Merritt has made his case for the 53-man roster but now the Saints have a tough decision to make at WR, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

After revamping their wide receiver corps over the offseason, the New Orleans Saints now have so much talent that they’re left with tough decisions to make at the position ahead of the NFL roster cuts deadline on Aug. 30. Incumbent wideouts Marquez Callaway and Tre’Quan Smith both looked like early roster locks to start the offseason, but the ascension of Destrehan native Kirk Merritt has made him hard to ignore in this conversation. Merritt is one of those upgrades brought in during the offseason — he spent the 2021 season on the Miami Dolphins practice squad and signed with New Orleans back in the spring. He went on to finish the preseason with 6 catches on 8 targets, 40 receiving yards and a touchdown reception, but he’s been much more impactful than those numbers would suggest over the summer.

The wide receiver also pulled off a 59-yard kickoff return in the second preseason game against the Green Bay Packers and showed that he can take snaps at running back in camp, shaping a very similar role to offensive weapon Ty Montgomery who the Saints kept around for two years because of his ability to affect the game in those same three areas as a receiver, runner, and returner. He’s tried out at a number of roles on special teams beyond returning kicks.

What makes matters even more complex is the lack of roster space. With receivers Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, Chris Olave and Deonte Harty all presumed locks, there may be only one or two spots left to claim. Meaning of the Merritt-Callaway-Smith trio, at least one will be the odd man out. That’s without taking into consideration rookie wideouts Dai’Jean Dixon and Rasheed Shahid as well, both of whom look to be prime practice squad candidates.

Smith suffered a presently undisclosed injury against the Chargers in the preseason finale. Perhaps that injury narrows the team’s decision to be made between only Callaway and Merritt. But if only one spot remains, it feels like Callaway would be on top. Merritt has shown a lot of multiplicity, but Callaway, the former Tennessee Volunteer, knows the system well, was a focus of it last year (leading the team in receiving yards) and is a gritty and determined blocker in the run game. Those are all qualities the Saints cherish in their receivers.

Perhaps Merritt has done enough to convince the Saints to keep a sixth receiver and to do so with him over Smith. He’s certainly made waves this offseason and keeping him off of the 53-man roster will be a tough call to make. While the decision won’t be easy, it is a great place for New Orleans to be. They’ve gone from a team struggling to find options at the position to now having too many. Stay tuned to see how this plays out.

Breaking down our final Saints 53-man roster projection

Breaking down our final Saints 53-man roster and practice squad projection after training camp and the preseason finale, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

As the New Orleans Saints wrap up their preseason action, focus now turns to the final round of roster cuts. By 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 30 all teams across the league must trim their rosters down to 53 players. After which, more moves and changes will surely be made.

Wide receiver, linebacker, running back and, following a serious injury to rookie left tackle Trevor Penning, the offensive line all take center stage. But more storylines are worth watching as well, including the tough decision to be made around quarterback Ian Book who impressed in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Some players, like Book, did themselves some favors Friday night furthering their case to make the roster. New Orleans will have some tricky decisions to make leading up to Tuesday’s deadline and more to follow. Here is a projection of what the initial 53-man roster may look like at each position, some possible impending transactions thereafter and a swing at the 16-man practice squad as well.