Tag: sacks record

Saints, Cameron Jordan strike deal on extension to continue his career in black and gold

The New Orleans Saints and Cameron Jordan agreed on a new contract extension to ensure he’ll close out his career in black and gold:

Was there ever any doubt this deal wouldn’t get done? ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the New Orleans Saints have agreed to terms on a new contract extension with defensive end Cameron Jordan, all but ensuring the eight-time Pro Bowler will spend his entire career with New Orleans. It’s some smart planning for the future between the Saints and one of their best players.

Schefter reports that Jordan’s contract is valued at $27.5 million over two years. He was already set to count against the 2023 salary cap by more than $15.1 million, most of which was tied up in $13.3 million from previous contract restructures, so this isn’t going to bring much current-year cap relief as much as future stability. If Jordan hadn’t signed a new deal, he would have been set to become a free agent in 2024 while leaving a dead money hit on New Orleans’ books in excess of $23.3 million.

Jordan, 34, won the Saints’ all-time sacks record last season (115.5) to surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson while also ranking fourth in the team record books with 58 pass deflections. He’s been a steady and reliable presence in the defensive front — since being drafted back in 2011, Jordan established a streak of 172 consecutive starts until he was briefly sidelined on the COVID-19 reserve list late in the 2021 season.

He appeared in 186 regular season games and 11 playoff contests before missing a game due to injury midway through the 2022 campaign. It’s not for nothing that he’s the longest-tenured player on the team, and this new extension will keep it that way. Jordan is well on his way to surpassing Drew Brees for the team record of the most games played with the Saints.

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Cameron Jordan selected for Pro Bowl Games, will team up with Demario Davis

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan has been selected for the Pro Bowl Games, where he will team up with linebacker Demario Davis:

This is cool. New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan has been added to the NFC roster for the upcoming Pro Bowl Games, where he’ll be teaming up with Saints linebacker Demario Davis. Jordan is a natural fit for the Pro Bowl’s new format, which will introduce more skills competitions and minigame contests than in years past, giving his charismatic personality an opportunity shine.

It’s also the eighth career Pro Bowl nod for Jordan, who won the Saints’ official sacks record during the 2022 season. He finished the year with 8.5 sacks and 66 combined tackles (40 solo, 13 tackles for loss) as well as 2 passes defensed and 2 forced fumbles. He’ll turn 34 this year and is still playing at a high level in the later stages of his Saints career, but fans should be sure to enjoy Jordan’s time in the spotlight at events like the Pro Bowl while they have them.

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Lane Johnson’s absence has a huge impact on the Eagles with the Saints up next

The Eagles will face Cam Jordan and the Saints without all-star right tackle Lane Johnson on Sunday. It’s an impactful absence for Philadelphia, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

This weekend, the New Orleans Saints will travel to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in an environment they have not been able to steal a win in back-to-back seasons.

In order to avoid a third-straight loss in the City of Brotherly Love, containing the Eagles run game and putting pressure on the passer (whether quarterback Jalen Hurts or backup Gardner Minshew is the signal-caller) will be key for defensive end Cameron Jordan and the Saints defense. Those elements of the game may have not been the easiest to achieve for any NFL team facing Philadelphia, but one key absence looms large and could open the door for the Saints defense to have the impact they want going into this one: all-star right tackle Lane Johnson.

Johnson has been ruled out for Sunday’s game with a groin injury. Johnson is a huge part of the Eagles’ success in both the passing and run game. Per Pro Football Focus, the former Oklahoma Sooner has taken 551 pass blocking snaps this season and has allowed just 9 total pressures without surrendering a single sack or even a hit on his quarterback.

That incredible production is not limited to just the passing game either. The Eagles have gained 22.7% of their 2,306 rushing yards this season running the ball to Johnson’s side of the line. They have also gained an additional 286 rushing yards outside the end of his side as well.

Johnson is such a pivotal part of Philadelphia’s success that the Eagles are 12-21 in the 33 games he has missed since 2013. That includes going 3-10 since 2020. While this could be more correlation than causation and does not guarantee the Saints any kind of victory on Sunday, the star right tackle’s absence should not be taken lightly.

“He is the best tackle in the NFL,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said of Johnson recently. “I didn’t say ‘right tackle.’ I said ‘tackle.'”

Some Saints fans would make the argument that New Orleans right tackle Ryan Ramczyk challenges for that title. But one thing is for sure, the Eagles’ best option in place of Johnson, backup tackle Jack Driscoll, is a big-time drop off. Driscoll has played 98 snaps in pass protection this season, per PFF and has allowed 13 pressures including a sack and hit on the quarterback.

This is a matchup that Jordan must take advantage of. He primarily rushes off the left side of the Saints defensive line against opposing right tackles, putting him on a collision course with Driscoll. A big day would not only help Jordan’s team win the game, but it would go a long way towards helping him claim Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson’s franchise sacks record. Jordan has bagged 112.5 sacks in his Saints career, trailing Jackson’s official total of 115. Let’s see if Jordan can step up in a mismatch on Sunday.

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Cameron Jordan out with injury for the first time in his 186-game career

Saints coach Dennis Allen said Friday that Cameron Jordan will be out with an injury this week, for the first time in his 186-game career:

This is tough. New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen announced Friday that defensive end Cameron Jordan will be out with an eye injury for Week 11’s game with the Los Angeles Rams, meaning this is the first time in Jordan’s 186-game career that he’ll be unavailable due to injury.

Jordan missed a game last season after testing positive for COVID-19, but he’s otherwise been a rare ironman even by NFL standards. In addition to those 186 regular season appearances, Jordan has also logged 11 playoff games. That something random like this eye injury (caused by someone gauging at his face in last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers; Jordan’s eye was swollen shut, though he tried to play through it) is what ends his streak speaks to how impressive it is he got this far in the first place.

Still, it’s unfortunate. And Jordan will have to wait another week to resume his pursuit of the franchise sacks record. He’s closing in on the mark set by Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson (115 sacks) with 112.5 sacks of his own. Between that ambition and his longevity in the NFL, Jordan is building his own case for joining Jackson in the Hall of Fame some day. That mission is just paused this Sunday. Hopefully he can pick it back up soon.

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