pete werner – Syndication Server

Saints linebacker’s role changed significantly after coaching change

Willie Gay saw zero snaps on Sunday despite the Saints’ struggles stopping the Rams’ rushing attack. His role has clearly changed since Dennis Allen was fired:

Willie Gay didn’t see a single defensive snap against the Los Angeles Rams. The first explanation you’d think of is the New Orleans Saints played more defensive backs to stop Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. It sounds good until you look at how Week 13 actually transpired.

The truth is the Saints couldn’t stop running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum on the ground. The Saints’ poor run defense was their biggest struggle on Sunday, and Willie Gay still didn’t see the field. You’d think he’d join Demario Davis and Pete Werner at some point.

Joe Woods replacing Dennis Allen as the defensive play caller directly coincides with a drop in Gay’s snaps. In the past three games, Gay’s snaps have went from 13 to 6 to 0. That consistent fall suggests Woods doesn’t see Gay as valuable an asset as Allen did. At the same time, we aren’t seeing other linebackers get those snaps. Davis and Werner were the only Saints linebackers to get on the field against the Rams.

Sunday’s game was the most glaring example of Gay’s absence. It’s hard to point at this being an aberration or the product of game planning when the snaps have dropped consistently. At this point it appears Gay is being phased out of the defense.

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Saints announce inactive players for Week 11 game vs. Browns

Erik McCoy is active, but the Saints still aren’t fully healthy on the offensive line. Here’s the full list of inactive players in Week 11.

One name you won’t see on the New Orleans Saints list of inactive players is Erik McCoy. The center was activated from injured reserve on Saturday. That was merely a formality. It was known McCoy would play from the time the Saints waived Connor McGovern.

Unfortunately, the Saints still aren’t at full strength in the interior offensive line. Lucas Patrick remains out with an ankle injury for the second week in a row.

Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor will start in the secondary for the first time since New Orleans traded Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders. McKinstry was out with a hamstring, and now the team can get a look at potentially their cornerbacks of the future.

In addition to Patrick, Jamaal Williams was also ruled out after Friday’s practice. Here is the full list of inactive players as the Saints take on the Browns in a Week 11 showdown:

New Orleans Saints inactive players:

G Lucas Patrick (ankle)
RB Jamaal Williams (groin)
LB Jaylan Ford
DT Khristian Boyd
WR Mason Tipton
S Millard Bradford
QB Spencer Rattler (emergency quarterback)

Cleveland Browns inactive players:

WR Jaelon Darden
RB D’Onta Foreman
CBH Chigozie Anusiem
OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
QB Bailey Zappe (emergency quarterback)

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Saints starting linebacker expected to play through injury vs. Browns

Pete Werner is a gametime decision, but he is expected to play as the Saints aim to continue Nick Chubb’s slow return from injury:

The New Orleans Saints are expected to have their full compliment of linebackers against the Cleveland Browns. While Demario Davis and Willie Gay were healthy, Pete Werner was managing a hand injury that kept him out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

At Friday’s practice, Werner was able to get on the field in a limited capacity. That didn’t add any certainty to his status for Sunday, as Werner was listed as a game time decision. Per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, the expectation is Werner will play.

The Saints will need all of their linebackers to contribute versus the Browns. Nick Chubb has struggled to regain form since returning from injury, but you still remember the player he used to be and know he can snap back at any moment.

Cleveland will look to run the ball, so having Davis, Werner, and Gay all at your disposal will help neutralize that aspect of the offense.

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Saints rule out 2 players, 6 more questionable vs. Browns on final injury report

The New Orleans Saints ruled out two players against the Browns, with six questionable on the final Week 11 injury report:

Believe it or not, this is a big improvement. The New Orleans Saints ruled out just two players against the Cleveland Browns, with six more questionable on the final Week 11 injury report. Just one starter is out for sure — left guard Lucas Patrick (ankle) — and three others are in the questionable group between center Erik McCoy (groin), linebacker Pete Werner (hand), and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring). Werner at least will be a game-time decision.

That’s a far cry from where the Saints had been in regards to injuries for much of this season (and last year, and the year before that). Interim head coach Darren Rizzi made it a point to revise the daily practice schedule, but whatever the training staff is doing differently is working, too.

But that’s not to say the Saints have an advantage in health this week. The Browns ruled out just one player, defensive tackle Mike Hall (knee), and the other five players listed on their injury report this week all practiced fully on Friday and will be available for Sunday’s game. That includes backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (right finger) and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (knee). Check the final Week 11 injury report for yourself:

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Saints start with their shortest injury report in weeks vs. Browns

The Saints started with their shortest injury report in weeks before Sunday’s game with the Browns. Team health is finally trending up:

This is what you want to see. The New Orleans Saints shared their shortest injury report in weeks, if not months, ahead of Week 11’s home game with the Cleveland Browns. Just nine players were listed this time after what’s felt like double-digit injury reports had become the norm.

And of those nine, only three didn’t practice on Wednesday. Linebacker Pete Werner (hand), guard Lucas Patrick (ankle), running back Jamaal Williams (groin) weren’t able to go, though in Werner’s case he’s said to be day-to-day with a chance to play on Sunday. So really that’s two inactives and a single starter down to start the week

Of course that doesn’t mean everything is great. The team’s two best receivers, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, are both on injured reserve and might be done for the year already. But we’ll take our wins where we can find them. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi expressed optimism that starting center Erik McCoy (groin) could return from I.R. this week, and that rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring) may return to the starting lineup after missing a few games with an injury of his own. That’s progress.

As for the Browns? Their injury report is even more brief than the Saints’, with the most notable listing being wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (knee), who practiced fully on Wednesday. Health won’t be in the Saints’ favor this week, but for possibly the first time this season it may not be actively holding them back.

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Saints changing practice routine in the face of recurring injuries

The Saints have had eight injuries happen during practice this year, so now they’re shifting their pre-practice routine:

Health has been one of the New Orleans Saints biggest enemies this season. New Orleans has been on the losing side of that battle for the majority of the season.

The injury bug doesn’t discriminate with the timing of the injuries either. The Saints have suffered injuries in game and in practice. The latter is making Dennis Allen switch their practice routine.

The most notable injuries such as Derek Carr, Erik McCoy and Chris Olave happened in live action. Pete Werner, however, missed three games with a hamstring injury he suffered in practice. Kool-Aid McKinstry is missing the Carolina Panthers this week with a hamstring injury suffered in practice, too.

The Saints have suffered 8 injuries in practice this year. Allen said they are “looking at hydration levels, a little more pre-practice stretch, activation period.”

A focus the lead up to practice is integral. Hamstrings have been one of the most common injuries. The stretches and activation period alterations are aimed to getting the body prepared for more strenuous activity. These changes were needed. What they’ve been trying wasn’t working. Hopefully it makes a positive difference.

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Saints designate two players to return from injury lists

Nephi Sewell and Shane Lemieux have 21 days to return to the New Orleans Saints’ active roster. What would be their role upon return?

The New Orleans Saints will be getting pieces back from injury that will add depth to the linebacker corps and offensive line very soon. New Orleans has opened the 21-day window for linebacker Nephi Sewell and offensive lineman Shane Lemieux.

Sewell’s immediate role will be on special teams upon his return from a torn ACL. Demario Davis, Willie Gay Jr., and Pete Werner will lead the charge at linebacker, but Sewell could compete with Anfernee Orji and D’Marco Jackson for reps in case of injury.

Lemieux is an interesting case. He replaced Erik McCoy in the starting lineup after McCoy’s injury versus the Eagles. Shortly after, Lemieux went to injured reserve with an ankle injury. Lemieux could return McCoy is available. If so, would the Saints turn back to Lemieux over Connor McGovern? McCoy’s availability will determine if New Orleans even has to answer that question.

These players have three weeks to be placed on the active roster, otherwise their season is over. That extends to the Saints bye week, so the latest we should see Sewell or Lemieux is Week 13 versus the Los Angeles Rams.

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Saints welcome back some reinforcements on final injury report vs. Chargers

The Saints welcomed back some reinforcements on the final injury report vs. Chargers. Taysom Hill, Chris Olave, and Pete Werner are good to go:

The New Orleans Saints welcomed back some reinforcements on the final injury report for Week 8’s road game with the Los Angeles Chargers. Tight end/fullback Taysom Hill (rib), wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion), and linebacker Pete Werner (hamstring) are good to go, and so are starting offensive linemen Cesar Ruiz (knee) and Lucas Patrick (chest).

All told, of the 14 players on this week’s injury report just two won’t be playing after being preemptively ruled out — backup guard Nick Saldiveri (shoulder) and wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip). Starting quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) is questionable to return to action, but we knew he was probably another week away already.

It’s the best injury report the Saints have had all season. Let’s see if it makes a difference after this five-game losing skid.

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Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 8 opponent: Saints

Here are some important things to know about the Saints ahead of the Week 8 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers return home to face the Saints on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 1:05 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 8 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Saints are 2-5 on the season. New Orleans has lost its last five games.

Rookie under center

The Saints announced they’re starting first-year quarterback Spencer Rattler for the third straight week. Rattler was thrown in as the starter when Derek Carr sustained an oblique injury in Week 5. This will be Rattler’s first game on the road. The former South Carolina product has completed 62.7% of his passes for 415 yards with one touchdown to two interceptions.

Could be getting some key players back

Aside from being without Carr, the Saints were without some other important offensive players last weekend against the Broncos. Wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) and tight end Taysom Hill (ribs), who were both out in Week 7, returned to full participation at practice Thursday. Additionally, guard Cesar Ruiz and linebacker Pete Werner were present for practice.

Run all over

The Chargers struggled to run the football last Monday. However, there is an excellent opportunity for a bounce-back performance against a Saints defense that is allowing 146.7 yards rushing per game and 5.4 yards per carry. Since Week 3, New Orleans has allowed 901 yards on the ground, the most in the NFL in that span.

Look out for…

Running back Alvin Kamara. Cardinals RB James Connor had his way with the Chargers defense. Now, Los Angeles will prepare for another one of the league’s better backs. Kamara is a dual-threat weapon who’s posted 690 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.

Dennis Allen likes what he sees in second-year linebacker

Dennis Allen feels Anfernee Orji’s performance is a silver lining from the Saints’ long list of injuries. The second-year linebacker has seized his opportunity:

New Orleans Saints linebacker Anfernee Orji continues to impress Dennis Allen. Orji has been primarily a special teams player, but injuries have forced him to play more on defense.

That role will diminish with Pete Werner returning from injury as early as this week, but Orji has made the most of his time. In the only game Orji played more than 30 snaps, he registered 10 tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs. That was second only to Demario Davis.

Orji showed the ability to get in the backfield against the Denver Broncos. He didn’t play as much as he did versus the Chiefs, so his total tackles dropped. Orji did get the first two tackles for a loss of his career on Thursday night, however.

Allen believes Orji has “made a ton of progress since last year.” Orji spent all of last year on the practice squad, and showed refinement in training camp. That’s transitioned over to his regular season snaps.

Though Allen admitted they didn’t plan on playing Orji this much, he thinks this is the silver lining of injuries: “You have an opportunity for some young guys step up, get some valuable playing experience.”

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