Tag: Taysom Hill

Saints TE Taysom Hill thanks fans, prepares for surgery after torn ACL

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill thanked fans on social media for their support before undergoing surgery:

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The New Orleans Saints have been bitten by the injury bug plenty of times this season, but few have been has hard to swallow as the loss of Taysom Hill.

Amongst all of the strife over the last few years, Hill’s commitment to team has made him a favorite for pretty much every Saints fan. To see him fall victim to another brutal injury, this time a torn ACL against the Los Angeles Rams, was quite upsetting.

The do-it-all tight end recently took to Instagram, though, to share an update on how he is feeling after the injury.

The main points made in the message are that he is in good spirits as he prepares for surgery. He thanked all fans for the outpouring of support and is confident that he will make a full recovery.

Many pondered if this latest injury would bring his time in black and gold to an end, but it appears as though the 34-year-old will try to make his way back to the field.

In eight seasons playing for New Orleans, Hill has 3,380 yards of scrimmage for 44 touchdowns. He also had 2,369 passing yards with 11 more scores. That doesn’t even cover the contributions he has made on special teams. A true once-in-a-lifetime player.

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Saints have begun using their tight ends again under Darren Rizzi

The Saints tight ends have stepped up after injuries decimated the wide receiver corps. It’s a positive trend from Darren Rizzi’s time as interim head coach:

The promotion of Darren Rizzi to interim head coach has had its ups and downs, but ultimately the New Orleans Saints are 3-1 and the team has been able to close out most of their games. And that’s happened despite some real adversity challenging them.

With the injury to Chris Olave and previous injuries to Bub Means and Rashid Shaheed, the offense has had to find a variety of ways to succeed in the passing game, and in the last four games, that has meant heavy involvement of the tight ends in the receiving game. Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, and even Dallin Holker have each stepped into larger roles offensively.

Since Rizzi has taken over, here are the receiving stat lines for the tight ends in each game (including Taysom Hill):

  • Vs. Atlanta Falcons: 4 receptions on 7 targets for 58 yards
  • Vs. Cleveland Browns: 14 receptions on 17 targets for 130 yards and 1 touchdown
  • Vs. Los Angeles Rams: 12 receptions on 18 targets for 79 yards
  • At New York Giants: 7 receptions on 8 targets for 100 yards and 1 touchdown

The average over this span is approximately 9 receptions on 12 targets for 92 receiving yards and a touchdown every other game. In the last three of those games, two of the top three Saints receivers in yards have been tight ends as well, which was most certainly not the case pre-Rizzi promotion and Olave injury. We will see how things shake out and if this remains the case long-term, but for now they have been the focal point of the receiving game in recent matchups.

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Tyler Warren would be a dream pick for Broncos in 2025 NFL draft

We’re dreaming about the 2025 NFL draft during the Broncos’ bye week and tight end Tyler Warren would be a perfect pick.

It’s never too early to look ahead to the NFL draft, right?

The Denver Broncos still have four games remaining this season, but the 2025 offseason is now just a few months away. Next spring, tight end will be one of Denver’s biggest positions of need.

Through 13 games this fall, Lucas Krull is the team’s leading tight end in receptions with a whopping 13 catches for 120 yards and no touchdowns. Up next is Adam Trautman (nine catches for 158 yards and one score) and Nate Adkins (seven catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns).

If you combine all three, that’s 29 catches for 328 yards. That’s terrible production from the tight end room.

Tyler Warren could be the solution in 2025.

The Penn State tight end is a former quarterback who now serves as a do-everything player for the Nittany Lions. Sound familiar? Warren could be much more than a Taysom Hill in Sean Payton’s offense, though.

Warren (6-6, 260 pounds) is a better blocker than Hill, a more dynamic receiver and just as productive as a runner. Through 12 games at PSU this fall, Warren has hauled in 81 receptions for 978 yards and six scores.

Warren has also rushed 21 times for 189 yards — averaging 9.0 yards per carry — and he’s completed three of five passes for 35 yards and a score.

Right now, the tight end is projected to be picked late in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. With the Broncos on pace to make the NFL playoffs, they could go on the clock right around the time Warren is projected to go off the board. If he’s available, Warren would be a dream pick for Denver in 2025.

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B/R looks at the long-term impact of Taysom Hill’s injury

This Bleacher Report writer took a look at how Taysom Hill’s injury potentially impacts the New Orleans Saints offseason:

Taysom Hill’s season is over after suffering an ACL injury against the Los Angeles Rams. The New Orleans Saints are having to grapple with how they will attempt to supplant Hill’s versatility for the remainder of the season

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox took it one step further and sees Hill’s injury as one of the injuries that will shake up the offseason.

Hill’s versatility is his greatest trait as a player. He can block from the fullback or tight end, run the football from running back or quarterback, and also catch the football from all those positions, other than quarterback

That is the value he brings to New Orleans, but it’s also the reason he creates such a wide void. Knox suggests the Saints may move on from Hill due to age and injury, or salary. Releasing him as a post-June 1 cut would save $10 million against the cap, but the Saints wouldn’t get those savings until after the draft and free agency has passed them by.

The injury could result in the Saints needing a new tight end and rushing threat if Hill is unable to return or the Saints choose to not bring Hill back in 2025. It’s certainly a storyline we’ll have to watch closely in the spring.

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Saints formally place Taysom Hill on injured reserve, ending his season

The New Orleans Saints put Taysom Hill on injured reserve on Friday, formally ending his season after last week’s serious knee injury:

This was expected, but that doesn’t make it easier to accept. The New Orleans Saints placed Taysom Hill on injured reserve on Friday, formally ending his season after last week’s serious knee injury. Life comes at you fast in the NFL. Last week, Hill was selected as the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. This week his season is over.

Hill suffered a torn ACL and other damage to his left knee in a collision with other players late in the Saints’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams; this season was his most productive in the NFL despite dealing with some other injuries. Hill appeared in just eight games but averaged his best numbers in rushing yards per game (34.8) and receiving yards per game (23.4), scoring six touchdowns as a runner and receiver.

Will Hill be back in 2025? He’s under contract for just one more season and will turn 35 next year. Retirement would help the Saints out from a salary cap perspective, but there’s no replacing Hill’s importance to the team. That’s a question he’ll need to answer on another day. For now, we’ll wish him well in recovery.

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Saints rule out three players on final Week 14 injury report, two more questionable

The Saints ruled out three players on the final Week 14 injury report, with two more questionable. But it’s the Giants dealing with even more absences:

The final Week 14 injury report is here, and the New Orleans Saints have preemptively ruled out three players while listing two more as questionable for Sunday’s game with the New York Giants.

We already know that tight end Taysom Hill (knee) won’t play, but neither will left guard Nick Saldiveri (knee) and rookie wide receiver Bub Means (ankle), who remains on injured reserve. Defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon (Achilles) has a good chance to play after practicing fully this week, but he’s questionable along with second-year running back Kendre Miller (hamstring). Kpassagnon is still on the PUP list while Miller is on IR with Means.

Things are worse for the Giants. They ruled out three of their own, too, but many more players are doubtful (two of them) or questionable (six more). That group includes star rookie Malik Nabers (groin); the wide receiver has been the engine powering their offense amid upheaval at quarterback. Here’s the full injury report from both teams:

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Saints injury report: Starting offensive line coming into focus vs. Giants

The New Orleans Saints could have their starting offensive line together for the first time since Week 3 against the New York Giants. More on Thursday’s injury report:

There weren’t many changes for the New Orleans Saints on Thursday’s updated injury report, but the news we did get was mostly positive ahead of Sunday’s game with the New York Giants. The Saints announced that right guard Cesar Ruiz (concussion) returned to practice on a limited basis after sitting out on Wednesday, and he would bring a big boost to an offensive line already dealing with several high-profile injuries.

If Ruiz is able to go along with left guard Lucas Patrick (calf) and center Erik McCoy (groin), each of whom also practiced limited reps, the Saints would have their starting five together again for the first time since Week 3.

Of course it wasn’t all good news. Rookie wide receiver Bub Means (ankle), still on injured reserve, did not participate in Thursday’s practice after seeing limited snaps to start the week. Whether he’s experienced a setback or was held out of an abundance of caution remains to be seen.

As for the Giants? They added three players to their already-heavy injury report, most notably rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (groin). His status is worth monitoring in the days ahead. For now, here’s the full Thursday injury report from both teams:

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Saints won’t abandon the Taysom Hill package even without Hill

Taysom Hill is out for the season, but the Saints plan to continue using plays designed for him with a committee in his absence:

There’s a reason they call Taysom Hill a Swiss army knife. He contributed to the New Orleans Saints offense in a variety of ways before going down with a season ending injury last week.

How do you replace someone like that? Despite not having Hill for the remainder of the season, Darren Rizzi doesn’t plan on abandoning the Taysom Hill game plan even without Taysom Hill.

The difference will be how the Saints approach that portion of the playbook. You’ll never find a replica of Hill. As Rizzi said, “I don’t know if there’s another guy in the league who can do what he does.”

New Orleans is going with a committee approach. We’ve seen this before when Hill was injured, with guys like Alvin Kamara, Juwan Johnson, and Adam Prentice doing different things he’d normally be responsible for. Rizzi continued, “All the plays and different packages and things we run are going to have to be distributed differently.”

The most unique aspect of Hill’s game is his ability to run from a direct snap. New Orleans has no plans to discard this aspect of the offense either. Rizzi put it plainly: “We’re going to have that stuff still in the game plan.”

Rizzi didn’t want to disclose much, but he did reveal they’re trying out a few players in that role and “take a look at how it looks this week.”

Replacing Hill is no easy feat. How New Orleans replaces him will be one of the more interesting storylines to close out the season.

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Saints injury report: Latest on Taysom Hill, Kendre Miller, Bub Means vs. Giants

New Orleans Saints injury report: Latest on Taysom Hill, Kendre Miller, Bub Means vs. New York Giants in Week 14

Wednesday’s initial New Orleans Saints injury report was a mixed bag of news ahead of Sunday’s game with the New York Giants. Last week’s brief injury report was nice while it lasted — the list has since grown from six names to twelve, doubling in size.

Some of these developments are positive, but not many. Running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) is one of the new additions as he returns to practice in anticipation of being activated again from injured reserve. Another new listing is rookie wide receiver Bub Means (ankle), who was limited.

But losing impact players like tight end Taysom Hill (knee) and right guard Cesar Ruiz (concussion), neither of whom practiced, is worrisome. Key starters like center Erik McCoy (groin) and left guard Lucas Patrick (calf) were each limited to start the week.

Here’s the full injury report from each team:

Darren Rizzi offers scant details in postgame injury report

The Saints suffered some significant injury issues over the weekend, but Darren Rizzi offered scant details in his postgame injury report:

The Saints suffered some injury issues during Sunday’s 21-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Two of the most notable ones were to offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri and Swiss army knife Taysom Hill.

Saldiveri suffered a knee injury in the third quarter of the game and was carted off of the field. This really hurt the Saints up front, considering the team had already lost Erik McCoy and Lucas Patrick, who Saldiveri was specifically filling in for.

No updates have been provided on his condition to this point, outside of the fact that he was set to go for further imaging after the game. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi said he didn’t want to speculate about either of them.

Hill was also carted off of the field during the game after he took a helmet to the knee.

At the time, he led the team with 5 catches for 37 yards and carried the ball five times for 10 yards. It is the third time this season in which Hill has had to leave the game with an injury. Previously, he had suffered cracked ribs and a bruised lung.

He is one of the most loved players by the fan base, with many questions prompted after he had to exit the game.

The update provided on him most recently was not an optimistic one, coming from a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport that indicated he thought Hill would be out for the remainder of the season, which was confirmed after imaging on Monday morning.

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