Tag: reserve

Saints add more cornerback depth with this reserve/future deal

The Saints added more cornerback depth by signing Rejzohn Wright to reserve/future deal. The former All-Pac-12 corner has spent time with the Panthers and Raiders:

Here’s the big offseason personnel move New Orleans Saints fans  have been waiting for: free agent cornerback Rejzohn Wright has signed a reserve/future deal with the team, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, guaranteeing him a spot on their 90-man roster. He’ll have an opportunity to compete in training camp. Most of the Saints’ 2023 practice squad is coming back on these type of contracts.

A second-year pro out of Oregon State (where he earned All-Pac-12 recognition as a senior), Wright is listed at 6-foot-1.5 and 193 pounds, which fits the athletic prototype the Saints value at cornerback. He previously spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders.

Wright joins a crowded position group. The Saints are bringing back Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, and Faion Hicks from the 2023 team with players like Isaac Yiadom and Shemar Jean-Charles headed for free agency. But you can never have enough cornerbacks (especially if a Lattimore trade is brewing behind the scenes). We’ll see if Wright can make some noise when practices kick off in a few months.

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5 Saints rookies open training camp on injury reserve lists

Five New Orleans Saints rookies are sidelined at the start of training camp on injury reserve lists, including several draft picks:

This isn’t too surprising, but that doesn’t make it good news: five New Orleans Saints rookies have been sidelined at the start of training camp on various injury reserve lists, including several draft picks. The good news is that it just means none of these players passed their initial physical exam upon arriving at the team facility. Once they’re able to do that and prove they’re healthy, they’ll join their teammates on the practice field.

Here is what you need to know:

Jerry Jacobs heading to the Lions reserve/PUP list to start the season

Jacobs will miss the first 4 Lions games as he continues to recover from December knee surgery

The Detroit Lions created a little space on the initial 53-man roster without severing ties with any players. Per numerous reports, the Lions are moving cornerback Jerry Jacobs from the active/PUP list to the reserve/PUP list status.

Jacobs is still recovering from ACL surgery last December after injuring the knee in the Lions’ loss to the Denver Broncos. He was close enough to being ready to return that the Lions kept him on the active list, but the move now sidelines Jacobs for the first four games of the regular season.

Jacobs was a revelation as an undrafted rookie in 2021. He seized a starting outside CB role thanks in part to numerous injuries around the secondary and thrived. He was the second-best rookie CB in the NFL per Pro Football Focus grades and the top-rated UDFA in the league regardless of position.

The second-year player from Arkansas joins FB Jason Cabinda, DE Romeo Okwara, DE Josh Paschal and rookie WR Jameson Williams on the reserve lists that rule out a return until Week 5. Williams is on the reserve/NFI list, a contractual technicality, while the others are on PUP.

When Jacobs returns, it could be as the team’s starting slot corner. Jacobs recently advised me that he’s been learning the slot role and working on playing more inside. Last year’s primary slot CB, AJ Parker, is being waived.

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What the latest roster moves mean for the Lions

What the latest roster moves involving PUP and NFI reserve lists mean for the Lions and the initial 53-man roster

Tuesday was roster cutdown day. The Detroit Lions reduced the roster from 85 players down to 80 with a few moves.

Foremost, four players were moved from the active physically unable to perform/non-football injury lists to the reserve lists. Rookie WR Jameson Williams moved to the reserve/NFI, while fellow rookie DE Josh Paschal and vets DE Romeo Okwara and FB Jason Cabinda are now on the reserve/PUP list.

The designation means those four players are ruled out for the Lions until Week 5 but are protected on the roster. They will miss at least the first four games. Just for clarification, the only real difference between PUP and NFI is the timing of the injury; Williams suffered his knee injury while in college, and anything prior to the NFL qualifies as NFI even though it happened playing football. Paschal was cleared and practiced earlier this offseason after being drafted but aggravated the injury he had at Kentucky, so he’s PUP. For all intents and fan purposes there really isn’t any other difference between the two.

The one remaining player on the active/PUP list is cornerback Jerry Jacobs. By keeping Jacobs active, he will be able to play whenever he’s cleared by team doctors and training staff to get back on the field. Jacobs suffered a torn ACL in December and could be ready for Week 1. The team has until August 30th to place him on the reserve list if it feels Jacobs won’t be ready in time, but that would be unexpected.

Roster impact

Removing the players now on reserve from the depth chart in the quest to formulate an initial 53-man roster provides some clarity. It’s especially true at DE, where both Paschal and Okwara were expected to play big roles.

Because they’re both out at least a month, expect the Lions to keep John Cominsky and Austin Bryant as the primary backups to starters Charles Harris and Aidan Hutchinson–who would be starting even if Romeo Okwara was healthy. With Julian Okwara also still sidelined with an injury of his own and having potential to miss the first week (or more), it makes it easier to project sixth-round rookie James Houston to stick.

There is also an opening for a hybrid rush LB to stick that would have normally been on the cutting room floor. Anthony Pittman and Jarrad Davis fit that bill. Though it’s possible neither makes the initial 53-man roster, the opening for one of them is now wider.

Cabinda’s absence leaves the Lions without a fullback, and Ben Johnson’s offense does heavily utilize the FB position. The easiest way to compensate is for the Lions to keep an extra tight end. Most projections (mine included) had Brock Wright and fifth-round rookie James Mitchell already making the team as reserves behind T.J. Hockenson. Wright can fill in the FB/H-back role in a pinch, but Shane Zylstra has seen considerable practice time in that role as well as a receiving TE. Keeping four TEs–at least initially–seems to be the way the club will go.

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Saints activate Erik McCoy and Marcus Williams, questionable to play vs. Panthers

Saints activate Erik McCoy and Marcus Williams from COVID-19 reserve, questionable to play vs. Panthers

Let’s start with the good news: the New Orleans Saints activated two key starters on Saturday, bringing both center Erik McCoy and free safety Marcus Williams off of the COVID-19 reserve list. But that’s not enough for them to suit up in Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers.

Both starters need to finish clearing the NFL’s COVID protocols before they can join the team and dress out, meaning they need one more negative test result to gain clearance. For now, they’re each officially listed as questionable to play against the Panthers. Don’t expect a resolution until about 90 minutes before kickoff when each team reports their inactive lists.

Obviously it would be huge to get both players back in the lineup. McCoy has had to work overtime keeping the offensive line afloat with injuries all around him. Williams has been maybe their most consistent defensive back. If they aren’t able to play, look for backup lineman Will Clapp to start in McCoy’s place at the pivot while P.J. Williams fills in for the Saints’ franchise-tagged safety.

Additionally, the Saints designated tight end Nick Vannett to the COVID-19 reserve list while activating practice squad defensive tackle Malcolm Roach from it.

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Report: Trevor Siemian the latest Saints player entering COVID-19 protocols

Report: Trevor Siemian the latest Saints player entering COVID-19 protocols, Ian Book to back up Taysom Hill

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This is what we were worried about when the New Orleans Saints began adding players to the COVID-19 reserve list earlier this week. An outbreak of cases sweeping across the NFL has touched New Orleans, with the Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Jeff Duncan reporting that Saints backup quarterback Trevor Siemian is expected to enter league COVID-19 protocols and be unavailable for Monday night’s game with the Miami Dolphins.

That follows the earlier placements of tight ends Juwan Johnson and Adam Trautman on the COVID-19 reserve list, leaving just two tight ends available for the Dolphins game (Nick Vannett on the 53-man roster and Ethan Wolf on the practice squad). It’s a bad time to be shorthanded.

If Siemian is also sidelined, it leaves New Orleans with only one healthy quarterback behind Taysom Hill: rookie draft pick Ian Book, who hasn’t played a down this season. He’s been inactive for all but two games in Weeks 9 and 10. It’s too late in the game to add another passer, so there’s a non-zero chance we see Book hit the field if Hill misses time while managing a couple of different injuries.

But Duncan’s report adds that other Saints players could land on the COVID-19 reserve list, too. It’s something to keep an eye out for in the days leading up to kickoff with Miami.

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Chiefs designate LB Willie Gay Jr. to return from injured reserve

The #Chiefs have designated LB Willie Gay Jr. to return from injured reserve, officially opening up his window to practice and return to the team.

The Kansas City Chiefs have officially designated LB Willie Gay Jr. to return from injured reserve according to the NFL’s official transaction wire.

Gay has been on injured reserve since the beginning of the season dealing with a turf toe injury. Chiefs HC Andy Reid suggested on Monday that there was a chance that Gay would be designated to return from injured reserve this week. He was eligible to return from injured reserve beginning last week, but wasn’t quite ready to return to practice.

A return designation doesn’t necessarily mean that Gay will play in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. All this truly does is open up a 21-day window for Gay to participate in practice with the team. He was already spotted back working on the sideline with trainers during practice last week, indicating he was close to making his return to action.

At any point during the 21-day window, the Chiefs can opt to officially activate Gay from the injured reserve list. At that point they’d need to make room for him on the 53-man roster, but right now he still doesn’t count against the active roster.

This is a good sign that Gay is trending toward healthy, though. It’s paramount that the team get him back on the field, given their lack of range and athleticism at the linebacker position. His presence could really help a struggling defense find their identity.

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Saints designate WR Michael Thomas to COVID-19 reserve list

New Orleans Saints designate WR Michael Thomas to COVID-19 reserve list

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The rough year for Michael Thomas continues. He landed on the New Orleans Saints’ COVID-19 reserve list Tuesday after registering a positive test result, per Tuesday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire.

There’s a slight silver lining, though. Because Thomas remains on the physically unable to play (PUP) list while recovering from offseason ankle surgery, this doesn’t change much for him. He wasn’t going to be available to play until after the Saints bye week anyway.

NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that he recently joined the team after rehabbing his surgically-repaired ankle in Philadelphia. Expect Thomas to continue his recovery while isolating. His vaccination status is unclear, but if he is vaccinated he can rejoin the team after returning two negative test results in consecutive days. If he is unvaccinated, he must isolate for at least 10 days before submitting two subsequent negative tests and being cleared to return.

Still, it’s disappointing given the Saints are managing a number of breakthrough infections on their staff, which reached 100% vaccination early this summer. A total of six coaches and a team nutrionist are also isolating after testing positive. Here’s hoping everyone returns to full health soon.

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KeiVarae Russell returns to Saints practice, rookie Bryce Thompson waived

The New Orleans Saints welcomed CB KeiVarae Russell back to practice from COVID-19 reserve, while rookie safety Bryce Thompson was waived:

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We’ve got to take the latest news out of New Orleans Saints practice with the good and the bad. Let’s start with the positive: backup cornerback KeiVarae Russell made his return from the COVID-19 reserve list after spending two weeks out of action (he hadn’t been spotted at practice since Aug. 9), adding some much-needed competition to the bottom of the depth chart and on the special teams units.

However, the Saints lost a promising rookie. Sean Payton announced after practice that rookie safety Bryce Thompson was waived with an injury designation after getting hurt in Monday’s preseason game with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He’ll revert to injured reserve upon clearing waivers, so his year is done. We’ll see if the Saints release him with an injury settlement or hang onto him for another run next year, as they’ve done so far with rookie tight end Dylan Soehner.

We’ll see what other roster moves the Saints have in store once the daily NFL transactions wire updates Thursday afternoon. They tried out five free agents on Wednesday (three tight ends and two defensive linemen) but it hasn’t been reported yet whether any of them were signed. And we aren’t out of the woods yet with the kicker situation after Aldrick Rosas shanked an extra-point attempt against Jacksonville. Keep an eye out for any changes.

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Chiefs place C Darryl Williams on Reserve/COVID-19 list

The #Chiefs placed C Darryl Williams on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday. More here:

The Kansas City Chiefs have placed one of their offensive linemen on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

According to the NFL’s official transaction report, the Chiefs placed second-year center Darryl Williams on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday. The team did not practice on Saturday, so that’s good news as far as any close contacts are concerned. Remember, placement on the Reserve/COVID-19 list doesn’t necessarily mean this is a positive test for Williams.

The undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State has been working with third-team offense at the center position during training camp. He spent the majority of his rookie season on the practice squad in Kansas City.

There are two different sets of rules for those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated and placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Vaccinated players are allowed to return to practice after two negative tests, taken at least 24 hours apart. Unvaccinated players who are deemed high-risk close contacts are required to isolate for a minimum of five days.

In any event, Williams will likely be out of practice for a few days. He won’t count against the 90-man roster so long as he’s on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, but don’t expect an ensuing transaction. Expect Nick Allegretti to pick up the slack snapping the ball when practice resumes on Sunday.

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