Tag: List

Saints inactive list, Week 8: Who isn’t dressing out vs. Bears

The New Orleans Saints will not be joined by Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders among other inactive players against the Chicago Bears.

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Kickoff between the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears at a windy Soldier Field is almost an hour away, so both teams have reported their inactive lists following pregame warmups.

A couple of players were ruled out previously due to injuries and other absences. The Saints are running without three of their top four receivers, including starting wideouts Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, as well as starting right guard Nick Easton (still battling concussion symptoms after exiting Oct. 12’s win over the Chargers). The breakout star of last week’s victory against the Panthers, Marquez Callaway, was also ruled out after suffering a minor ankle injury in the game’s closing minutes.

Meanwhile, the Bears won’t have Pro Bowl center Cody Whitehair snapping the ball to Nick Foles during the afternoon. He exited their loss to the Rams last Monday night with a calf injury, which kept him out of practice throughout the week. But they will welcome the return of No. 1 wide receiver Allen Robinson after he cleared concussion protocol on Saturday.

Here’s the full breakdown of inactive players for both sides:

From the Saints

  • WR Michael Thomas (hamstring)
  • WR Marquez Callaway (ankle)
  • OL Nick Easton (concussion)
  • WR Emmanuel Sanders (COVID-19 reserve)
  • CB Ken Crawley
  • S DJ Swearinger
  • OL Derrick Kelly
  • DL Malcolm Roach

From the Bears

  • OL Cody Whitehair (calf)
  • WR Ted Ginn Jr.
  • DB Duke Shelley
  • RB Artavis Pierce
  • WR Riley Ridley
  • LB Travis Gipson

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Saints vs. Panthers inactives: Eli Apple to debut against his old team

The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers are missing starters due to injuries and COVID-19 exposure, but Eli Apple is making his debut.

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The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers announced their inactive lists for Week 7’s matchup, and two notable players will be dressing for the Panthers: cornerbacks Eli Apple and Donte Jackson.

Apple played for the Saints the last year-and-a-half before signing with their cross-division rival as a free agent, but he hasn’t taken a snap on defense for Carolina this year while recovering from a knee injury. That should change with Panthers starting cornerback Rasul Douglas out of action on the COVID-19 reserve list.

And the Saints have some of their own members on the league’s COVID-19 reserve, like wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and cornerback Ken Crawley. Additionally, they’re missing wideout Michael Thomas, who could also be held out of next week’s game after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain. New Orleans called up several players from their practice squad to help fill those vacancies.

Here is your full list of inactive players for both sides:

From the Saints

  • WR Michael Thomas (hamstring)
  • G Nick Easton (concussion)
  • SS D.J. Swearinger
  • DT Malcolm Roach
  • OL Derrick Kelly

From the Panthers

  • QB Will Grier
  • CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
  • OG John MIller
  • OL Mike Horton
  • WR Marken Michel

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NFL Week 2: D.J. Swearing among inactive Saints for Raiders game

The New Orleans Saints list of inactive players for Week 2’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders officially ruled out wideout Michael Thomas.

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Here we go, with one last stop before kickoff: the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders announced their inactive players for Week 2’s “Monday Night Football” game, finally deciding who will dress out and who will watch the game in sweatpants.

We knew that several key Saints players wouldn’t suit up from the injury report, specifically defensive end Marcus Davenport, wide receiver Michael Thomas, and linebacker Chase Hansen. A handful of Raiders players were questionable with injuries, but they waited until just before kickoff to make the final determination.

Here’s your full list of inactives from both sides:

From the Saints

  • DE Marcus Davenport (elbow)
  • WR Michael Thomas (ankle)
  • LB Chase Hansen (hip)
  • DB D.J. Swearinger
  • DT Shy Tuttle
  • RB Dwayne Washington
  • OL Will Clapp

From the Raiders

  • WR Rico Gafford
  • CB Amik Robertson
  • LB Nick Kwiatkoski
  • T Sam Young
  • T Trent Brown
  • DT Daniel Ross

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Saints call up Bennie Fowler, Margus Hunt again to play vs. Raiders

The New Orleans Saints promoted veteran wide receiver Bennie Fowler and defensive end Margus Hunt again to play versus the Las Vegas Raiders

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NFL teams are allowed to promote up to two players each week from their practice squad to expand game-day rosters to 48 from the usual 46, and the New Orleans Saints went with a pair of familiar names for Week 2’s tilt with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Wide receiver Bennie Fowler and defensive lineman Margus Hunt were each called up in Week 1, and they’ll be doing so again per ESPN’s Field Yates. Both practice squad members made an impact on special teams in the season opener against Tampa Bay, with Hunt blocking a field goal while Fowler recovered a fumbled kickoff to seal the win.

In total, Fowler appeared on 19 snaps last week (12 of them on special teams), while Hunt handled a heavier workload with 25 snaps played (just 4 of them on special teams). Hunt should get more looks at defensive end with Marcus Davenport inactive due to injury.

However, this is the last time the Saints can call up either of them unless they are signed to the 53-man roster, where their spots are secured for several weeks (barring an injury). Players may only be promoted twice in the 2020 season before teams have to make that longer commitment, preserving some separation between the active roster and the practice squad.

If either Davenport or star wide receiver Michael Thomas are going to miss much more time, it shouldn’t shock anyone if the Saints end up signing Hunt or Fowler to keep them around. They clearly value those veterans’ contributions.

But with Thomas expected to be out just two to four weeks and Davenport not placed on the short-term injured reserve to start the season, these may simply be band-aids for New Orleans until their starters are back in action.

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Saints activate RB Dwayne Washington after 18 days on COVID-19 reserve

The New Orleans Saints welcomed running back Dwayne Washington back to practice after an 18-day absence on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list.

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The New Orleans Saints activated running back Dwayne Washington from the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list on Thursday, 18 days after he was first sidelined per league protocol. He was the fourth Saints player to land on the list since training camp opened in late July, but each of his teammates returned to work after a day or two, writing the experience off as false positive test results.

That wasn’t the case for Washington, who missed the rest of camp and the first regular season game. Teams keep test results confidential so there’s no way of knowing for sure, but the lengthy absence for Washington would suggest he contracted the coronavirus. And thankfully, it appears he’s made a full recovery.

Washington returned to practice with the Saints on Thursday, and he could very well suit up for Monday’s kickoff with the Las Vegas Raiders. He was a core special teamer last season — only cornerback Justin Hardee and linebacker Craig Robertson played more snaps in the game’s third phase — but it remains to be seen how large of a role he’ll see on offense. Washington saw just 18 snaps there in 2019, buried beneath Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray on the depth chart.

Now he has to contend with training camp breakout Ty Montgomery, who got in on four snaps with the Saints offense in their 2020 season opener. Montgomery also placed third in New Orleans for special teams snaps played (behind Hardee and Robertson) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so maybe he and Washington can coexist.

And the Saints will not have to waive a player to make room for Washington on their 53-man roster. They never replaced rookie punter Blake Gillikin after he landed on injured reserve last week, so a spot was kept open for Washington once he was cleared to return. But the Saints do have an open vacancy on their 16-strong practice squad after linebacker Anthony Chickillo left for an opportunity on the Denver Broncos active roster, so some movement should be expected.

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Full list of Saints roster moves at NFL cuts deadline

The New Orleans Saints released a list of players including Tommy Stevens and Mario Edwards Jr. at the 2020 NFL roster cuts deadline.

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The New Orleans Saints went through their roster and made many tough decisions cutting it down from 80 players to just 53, and their work isn’t finished just yet. Waiver wire pickups and practice squad acquisitions are sure to follow as more tweaks are made ahead of Week 1.

In the meantime, here is the full list of roster moves made by the Saints in accordance with NFL rules on Saturday:

Players released by the Saints

  • LB Anthony Chickillo
  • DE Mario Edwards Jr.
  • DL Margus Hunt
  • WR Bennie Fowler
  • OL Patrick Omameh

Because of their veteran status with four or more accrued NFL seasons, none of these players are subject to waivers. And due to new COVID-19 rules impacting the practice squad, the Saints can re-sign any of them if they so choose.

Players waived by the Saints

  • LB Joe Bachie
  • WR Emmanuel Butler
  • WR Austin Carr
  • DE T.J. Carter
  • LB Andrew Dowell
  • TE Garrett Griffin
  • CB Kemon Hall
  • WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
  • WR Juwan Johnson
  • RB Tony Jones Jr.
  • LB Wynton McManis (CFL)
  • OL Jordan Steckler
  • TE Tommy Stevens
  • OL Calvin Throckmorton
  • OL Cameron Tom
  • CB Keith Washington Jr.
  • TE Ethan Wolf

Each of these players could return to the Saints practice squad, but they must first pass through the waiver wire without being claimed by another team.

Injured/suspended Saints players

  • LB Kiko Alonso (PUP)
  • S Saquan Hampton (waived/injured)
  • DE Anthony Lanier (injured reserve)
  • OL James Hurst (suspension)

With the exception of Hampton (who is subject to waivers, and could theoretically be claimed by another team), each of these players figure to stick with New Orleans. Alonso will have about six weeks to show progress in his recovery from ACL surgery earlier this year before the Saints must make a decision on sending him to injured reserve, while Hurst will be suspended the first four weeks of the season due to a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy from his time with the Baltimore Ravens. Because Lanier has accrued enough NFL experience, he can be designated directly to injured reserve without first testing waivers.

Saints designate Dwayne Washington to the NFL’s COVID-19 list

The New Orleans Saints added Dwayne Washington, a backing running back and special teams ace, to the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday.

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The New Orleans Saints added running back Dwayne Washington to the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list on Aug. 30, making him their fourth player to be sidelined due to the public health crisis. However, it’s unclear whether Washington received a positive test result or was exposed to someone who had; those sort of details are not made public knowledge.

Each of Washington’s three teammates to previously go through the reserve/COVID-19 protocol were cleared within a few days: linebacker Kaden Elliss, long snapper Zach Wood, and wide receiver Deonte Harris all retested negative after a brief time away from the team. Hopefully this is nothing serious for Washington’s personal health.

He’s been competing with Ty Montgomery and undrafted free agent Tony Jones Jr. for a backup job behind Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray. Washington probably had an inside edge on that roster battle after standing out on special teams (where he played 295 snaps in 2019, third-most on the team), but Montgomery’s almost-daily highlight moments in training camp practice could make a compelling argument.

So stay tuned for updates on Washington’s situation, as well as news about Saints owner Gayle Benson. Benson was diagnosed with COVID-19 and has been receiving medical attention while working from home. The coronavirus has hit the Saints close to home already, and everyone must remain vigilant as we continue to navigate this pandemic.

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Deonte Harris says he’s cleared from NFL’s COVID-19 protocol

All-Pro New Orleans Saints punt returner Deonte Harris announced on Twitter that he has been cleared from the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list.

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Here’s some good news: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Deonte Harris announced on Twitter that he is no longer designated to the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list, meaning that he has twice tested negative for an infection per league protocol.

The second-year pro out of Assumption College will rejoin his team and look to repeat his breakout performance as a rookie in 2019, which earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl and recognition on the AP All-Pro roster.

Because the NFL maintains confidentiality for players and coaches during COVID-19 testing, it’s unclear why Harris was placed on the list to begin with. He may have registered a false positive test or been in contact with someone who was infection, but it’s all speculation. What’s clear at this point is that he is healthy and ready to return to work.

Hopefully the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol will hold up during the regular season, which is set to begin in a matter of weeks. A recent breakthrough in testing is promising, but it remains to be seen when or how the NFL will implement it. For now, many Saints players and team employees are sequestered at a New Orleans hotel throughout training camp in an attempt at limiting their contact with others, lowering the risk of infection.

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All-Pro Saints returner Deonte Harris placed on reserve/COVID-19 list

The New Orleans Saints designated wide receiver Deonte Harris, a 2019 Pro Bowler and AP All-Pro, to their reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday.

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The latest round of COVID-19 testing from around the NFL has returned results, and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Deonte Harris was designated to the league’s reserve/COVID-19 list. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reported the news.

It’s important to remember that this alone doesn’t mean Harris has been infected with COVID-19; his test result could have been a false positive. Two of his Saints teammates rejoined the team last week after initially being listed on reserve/COVID-19, with linebacker Kaden Ellis and long snapper Zach Wood spending a few days away from the Saints until twice retesting negative.

So stay tuned for an update on Harris in the days ahead. He’s probably already scheduled a retest over the weekend.

Harris was a breakout star for the Saints in 2019, playing well enough in training camp and the preseason to earn a spot on the opening-day roster. He went on to earn recognition at the Pro Bowl and on the AP All-Pro list after racking up a league-leading 338 punt return yards, also ranking up NFL leaders in kick return yards (644). He was sensational in the playoffs, too, shredding the Minnesota Vikings with 133 kick return yards and another 44 yards off of punts. Not bad for a rookie out of small-school Assumption College. Hopefully he’ll be cleared to return to the squad soon.

In the meantime, the Saints have a few other candidates to try out for returning punts and kickoffs. Undrafted rookie Marquez Callaway was a successful return man at Tennessee, fielding 40 punts for 543 return yards and three touchdowns in his four-year career. Callaway also returned 8 kickoffs for 86 yards.

On the other hand, free agent pickup Ty Montgomery has plenty of NFL experience in the kicking game. He’s returned 53 kicks in 58 games played, totaling 1,158 return yards. It’s possible the Saints lean on Callaway for punt returns with Montgomery chipping in on kicks during Harris’s absence.

Saints veterans like Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill have dabbled in the return game in the past; Kamara included a 106-yard kick return touchdown in his 2017 rookie year highlights. But both players are more integral to the offense now than they’ve been in the past, so it would make sense for the team to try out some of the fresh talent joining them in training camp.

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Long snapper Zach Wood cleared from NFL’s COVID-19 protocol

New Orleans Saints long snapper Zach Wood again tested negative for COVID-19, clearing him from the NFL’s new protocol.

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Here’s some expected good news: New Orleans Saints long snapper Zach Wood retested negative for COVID-19 again, his second such result after being designated to the new reserve/COVID-19 list earlier this week. News of Wood’s successful retest was first reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football and confirmed by Katherine Terrell of The Athletic.

This means that Wood is in the clear to rejoin the Saints at their Metairie practice facility, once he’s formally activated in a filing with the league office. Because the NFL’s new COVID-19 rules and regulations limit teams to strength and conditioning exercises at this stage of training camp, the Saints likely weren’t disrupted much by having their only long snapper out of the lineup for a few days.

Still, they’ll be happy to get Wood back in the fold. He’s a cornerstone of the special teams unit, sign through 2023 along with kicker Wil Lutz; punter Thomas Morstead’s contract runs through 2022. That sort of stability has to be appreciated.

The Saints have come a long way from their tumultuous 2017 training camp, when they auditioned three different long snappers (Justin Drescher, Thomas Gafford, and Chase Dominguez) and traded for a fourth in longtime Philadelphia Eagles specialist Jon Dorenbos — whose entry physical revealed a life-threatening heart condition. Wood flew into town for a last-minute tryout two days before the season opener, won the job, and has quietly held it down ever since. Here’s hoping for more nonchalant success (and good health) for him.

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