Tag: roster moves

Saints designate their first two players to COVID-19/reserve list

The New Orleans Saints placed linebacker Kaden Elliss and long snapper Zach Wood on the COVID-19/reserve list on Thursday’s NFL transactions

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The New Orleans Saints tested their entire roster for COVID-19 infections when players arrived for training camp last week, and they were one of a few NFL teams to not report any positive cases.

That changed on Thursday’s update to the NFL transactions wire, when the Saints placed linebacker Kaden Elliss and long snapper Zach Wood to the COVID-19/reserve list. Details are confidential, but this means that they either tested positive themselves or came in contact with someone who had. They will need to test negative twice before they can rejoin the team.

Elliss, 25, joined the Saints last season as a late-round draft pick out of Idaho. His path to the roster lies on special teams, though he’s shown some of the athleticism and smarts needed to be more than a backup on defense. As for Wood: the 27-year old out of SMU signed a four-year contract extension with the Saints earlier this summer, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Saints replace him during his absence. Free agent tryouts are difficult right now given how busy doctors are in fighting a public health crisis.

Hopefully neither Elliss nor Wood will be seriously affected by the coronavirus. Some additions to the COVID-19/reserve list should have been expected, even if the Saints got off to a great start in training camp. Saints coach Sean Payton has been the first to acknowledge that cases will be inevitable in a contact sport with such large rosters.

It’s also worth noting that false positive test results are possible; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is one recent example. So we should look for some movement on these situations in the days ahead.

The Saints had two players opt out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the NFL deadline for opt outs passed by without more of their teammates joining them, which was also expected. So they’re all in for the long haul.

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Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny will start camp on PUP list

Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny will officially start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform List this season.

The Seattle Seahawks executed a number of roster moves on Monday, mostly addressing the health statuses of a number of players who had or will be reporting to training camp.

Most notable, the Seahawks have now officially placed running back Rashaad Penny on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start training camp. Penny’s season was cut short in 2019 when he tore his ACL late in the season and landed on the injured reserve.

Penny has not yet reported to Seattle for camp but the plan is for him to arrive later in the week.

“He’s coming in on Thursday, we didn’t think we needed to rush him in because he’s still rehabbing,” coach Pete Carroll told reporters during a Zoom press conference on Monday. “He’ll come in Thursday for Friday, and he’ll start his process of reconnecting with us on Friday. We’re anxious to get back. He’s working out really hard the reports are really strong that he’s doing well, but we have not had him in our building for a while now, so this will be our first chance.”

If Penny is to start the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, he would have to sit out the first six games of the year.

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Report: Noah Spence tore his ACL preparing for Saints training camp

The New Orleans Saints placed Noah Spence on the non-football injury list after he tore his ACL while preparing for their 2020 training camp

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Tough news for the New Orleans Saints comes from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, who reports that veteran defensive end Noah Spence was put on the reserve/non-football injury list after tearing an ACL in his knee while getting ready for their late-summer training camp.

Spence doesn’t have an extensive injury history — he did miss go down halfway through the 2017 season after hurting his shoulder, but otherwise has turned in a clean bill of health. So this shouldn’t be seen as the sort of recurring issue that has ended other players’ careers.

And because the Saints placed Spence on the non-football injury list rather than injured reserve, he will not test waivers. He’ll remain with the Saints (even if he doesn’t count against the 90-man roster) and be able to receive treatment from team doctors once their facilities reopen, and have the opportunity to practice and pursue a roster spot once his body is right.

But ACL injuries can end a year before it begins, and Spence is definitely in a tight spot right now. Here’s hoping for a full recovery.

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Saints place Noah Spence on reserve, sign Anthony Chickillo

The New Orleans Saints formally signed Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo and placed Noah Spence on the reserve/non-football injury list.

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The New Orleans Saints designated veteran pass rusher Noah Spence to the reserve/non-football injury list, as first reported by ESPN’s Field Yates and confirmed by The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell. Terrell added that this opened a roster spot for the team to officially sign Anthony Chickillo.

It’s an odd move for Spence, who finished the 2019 season on the Saints’ roster without any notable injuries. Initially signed after starting defense end Marcus Davenport was lost to injured reserve, Spence was a backup for New Orleans who was never activated for a game.

But keeping him on the non-football injury list allows Spence to remain in contact with the Saints over the summer, and potentially return for training camp if his body allows it. Last year, rookie linebacker Chase Hansen spent the year on this same list while recovering from offseason back surgery. Without further details on Spence, we simply can’t say for certain when he’ll be back. In the meantime, he won’t count against the 90-man roster,

Update: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Spence tore his ACL while preparing for training camp, privately working out during a time in which he’d normally be in New Orleans going through organized team activities. It’s a big blow for Spence personally, but at least he’ll still be involved in day-to-day operations with the Saints once the season starts.

As for Chickillo: the former Pittsburgh Steelers special teams ace figures to push Saints draft pick Zack Baun in training camp. Baun’s unique skills set as a versatile playmaker at the line of scrimmage isn’t really shared by other teammates, so while he should be expected to beat Chickillo in camp he’ll at least have someone to work against. But don’t sleep on Chickillo’s NFL experience giving him an edge over other backups looking for a roster spot.

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Saints reach agreement with Steelers free agent LB Anthony Chickillo

Chickillo appeared in 65 games over five years in Pittsburgh

The New Orleans Saints reached an agreement on a free-agent contract with former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo, as announced by his representatives at Rosenhaus Sports and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. While the terms of the deal have not yet been clarified, it is reported to be a one-year deal.

Chickillo appeared in 65 games over five years in Pittsburgh (along with four playoffs appearances), though he started just nine times. He played as more of an edge rusher than a true coverage linebacker, logging 7.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits in his time with the Steelers, as well as 11 tackles for loss.

His addition is probably going to push the Saints backups to compete for a role on special teams. Chickillo has played 1,190 snaps in the game’s third phase compared to 1,045 snaps on defense in his career. Last year, he played just 13% of the Steelers snaps on defense while playing 51% of their special teams snaps.

His special teams experience should be welcome in New Orleans, considering the Saints cycled through a group including Kaden Elliss, Stephone Anthony, Josh Martin, and Will Compton last year behind their starting trio and Craig Robertson. If nothing else, adding another veteran with an NFL resume should help training camp flow a little more smoothly.

The corresponding move to this addition isn’t known just yet, as are the financials on Chickillo’s contract. The Saints were at their full 90-man roster capacity and had nearly $10 million to work with, so keep an eye out for updates.

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Saints announce multiple roster moves, add Ty Montgomery

The New Orleans Saints announced the release of tight end Mitchell Loewen and the signing of former Packers running back Ty Montgomery.

The New Orleans Saints announced Friday that they released tight end Mitchell Loewen to open a spot on the 90-man roster for running back Ty Montgomery, confirming earlier reports that they had signed the versatile offensive weapon.

Loewen spent most of the 2019 season on the Saints practice squad, converting from his natural position of defensive end to tight end (where he had moonlighted in college) in a bid to compete on the fringe of the roster. The Saints reinforced their depth chart by trading up for Adam Trautman in the 2020 draft, adding him to the starting duo of Jared Cook and Josh Hill.

As for Montgomery: he should initially audition for a gadget role along with Deonte Harris, Taquan Mizzell (another returning member of the 2019 practice squad), and Tommylee Lewis, but his experience at running back is intriguing. He could be a better option to pick up Alvin Kamara’s playbook than Latavius Murray or Dwayne Washington, given his experience at lining up all over the formation and catching passes at every level of the field..

Then again, he might just be a training camp body. The Saints have many versatile weapons as it is, and it’s tough to see how Montgomery touches the ball if everyone stays healthy. But with a long summer ahead of us, it’ll be fun to imagine the ways in which Sean Payton might draw up plays for him.

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Saints re-sign veteran offensive lineman Patrick Omameh

The New Orleans Saints re-signed veteran offensive lineman Patrick Omameh, who has started games at guard and played left tackle in a pinch.

The NFL’s transaction wire listed one roster move for the New Orleans Saints on Thursday: a reunion with Patrick Omameh, a 30-year-old offensive lineman with experience at both guard and tackle. Omameh re-signed with the Saints to fill out their roster at the maximum 90-man capacity.

Omameh took the field in 14 games for the Saints last season, starting at left tackle in the team’s Thanksgiving Day road victory over the Atlanta Falcons when injuries struck both the starter (Terron Armstead) and his initial backup (left guard Andrus Peat). Pro Football Reference credited Omameh with just one holding penalty on 156 snaps played on offense, also chipping in 74 appearances on special teams.

His return crowds the depth chart along the offensive line, which is exactly where most teams would want to be in the months before training camp. Omameh figures to compete at tackle with second-year pros Ethan Greenidge (out of Villanova) and Derrick Kelly (Florida State), as well as undrafted rookies Darrin Paulo (Utah), Calvin Throckmorton (Oregon), and Jordan Steckler (Northern Illinois).

He could also make a push for snaps at guard, where veteran backups like Nick Easton, Will Clapp, Cameron Tom, and college free agent Adrian Magee (LSU) will be jostling for a few valuable roster spots.

New Orleans boasts one of the NFL’s strongest offensive lines, but Omameh’s extensive experience could give him a leg up on his competition. He’s started full seasons at both left guard (for the Jacksonville Jaguars) and right guard (with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), but showed last year he has the versatility to slide outside in a pinch. In a perfect world, the starting lineup will avoid injuries and other absences, and he’ll never get on the field. But it’s good to know that someone with a legit NFL background is pushing so many younger players for a covet spot on the 53-man roster.

How that competition will shake out is fascinating. The Saints have their starting five locked in (between Armstead, Peat, rookie center Cesar Ruiz, second-year starter Erik McCoy, and 2019 All-Pro Ryan Ramczyk), leaving just three or four spaces available on the opening-day depth chart. But the addition of two slots to the practice squad, which can be called up to the active roster on game days, might incentivize the Saints to keep Omameh around and gamble on some of their young guns passing through waivers to earn playing-time with the practice squad.

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Saints cut three-time Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford

The New Orleans Saints released starting right guard Larry Warford, who made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three years with the team.

 

The writing was on the wall after the 2020 NFL Draft, but now it’s apparent that Larry Warford will not be in the team’s plans for 2020. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported that the New Orleans Saints cut their starting right guard, which was confirmed by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The team itself later made the move official.

Warford was nominated to the Pro Bowl As an alternate in each of his first three years in New Orleans, but inconsistent play and poor conditioning in 2019 saw him end up on the chopping block. It’s disappointing that the team failed to find a trade partner for him during or after this year’s draft, but that likely speaks to his perceived value around the league.

This opens the door for either first-round pick Cesar Ruiz or last year’s standout rookie Erik McCoy to start in Warford’s place. Both players have started at guard at the college level, though they’ve played the majority of snaps at center. It’ll be interesting to see who lines up where this season, but at least the Saints will get the opportunity to field each of their highly-drafted players.

Cutting Warford also opens up a vacancy on the 90-man roster and frees up $7.75 million in salary cap space. Expect additional moves to follow.

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Former Notre Dame Five-Star Recruit Signs with Jacksonville Jaguars

Remember Aaron Lynch’s brief Notre Dame career? The former prized recruit and impact freshman just signed a new deal with the NFL’s Jaguars

Quick – do you remember Aaron Lynch’s career at Notre Dame?  If you blinked you very possibly may have missed it because he transfered to South Florida after just one season where there were certainly flashes of brilliance for the former five-star recruit.

Lynch played in 12 games his one season at Notre Dame in 2011, recording a team-high 5.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hurries.  It’s almost scary to think about what might have been had he been on the 2012 defensive line with as great as that group was.

The former top-ten national recruit went on to play at South Florida in 2013 after having to sit out 2012 due to transferring.  He then declared for the 2014 NFL Draft where the San Francisco 49ers eventually took him with the 150th overall pick.

Fast-forward six years down the road and Aaron Lynch has signed a new deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars after spending the last two years with the Chicago Bears.

Terms of Lynch’s deal in Jacksonville were not yet announced.  Lynch has recorded 20 sacks in his 73 game NFL career to date and for the second time in his football career now finds himself leaving the mid-west to play for a Florida based football team.

Seahawks sign 12 more undrafted rookie free agents, waive 4 players

The Seattle Seahawks have signed 12 more undrafted rookie free agents and waived four players to make room on the offseason roster.

The Seattle Seahawks added 12 more players to the roster Monday afternoon, signing 12 undrafted rookie free agents.

Including the five UDFAs Seattle inked last week – Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon, University of Washington wide receiver Aaron Fuller, Mississippi State tackle Tommy Champion, Albany defensive end Eli Mencer and Texas A&M cornerback Debione Renfrothe – the undrafted rookie class now stands at 17 members.

The following undrafted rookies were signed by the Seahawks Monday afternoon:

DT Josh Avery, Southeast Missouri
RB Patrick Carr, Houston, Houston
WR Seth Dawkins, Louisville
CB Gavin Heslop, Stony Brook
RB Anthony Jones, Florida International
DT Cedrick Lattimore, Iowa
TE Tyler Mabry, Maryland
FS Chris Miller, Baylor
FS Josh Norwood, West Virginia
CB Kemah Siverand, Oklahoma State
DE Marcus Webb, Troy
TE Dominick Wood-Anderson, Tennessee

To make room on the roster, Seattle waived four players: defensive tackle Nazair Jones, running back Adam Choice, defensive tackle Shakir Soto and linebacker Pita Taumoepenu.

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