Tag: Tommylee Lewis

Jason Pierre-Paul picked a unique new jersey number to wear with the Saints

Jason Pierre-Paul picked a unique new jersey number to wear with the Saints, representing his fourteenth year in the NFL:

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The newest member of the New Orleans Saints has made a unique choice for his jersey number: Jason Pierre-Paul announced his formal signing with the Saints practice squad on Tuesday, including an edited photo showing the pass rusher in his new uniform, featuring the No. 14 jersey. Pierre-Paul said it’s to represent his 14th year in the NFL in a post from his official Instagram account.

Though it isn’t reflected on the team’s website roster (where Pierre-Paul is not yet listed at all), this means that Pierre-Paul will be designated as a linebacker, even if he primarily plays defensive end. The No. 14 jersey only recently became available for linebackers and defensive backs after being limited to offensive players, kickers, and punters. If Pierre-Paul were listed as a defensive end, the only other options for him would have been Nos. 59, 60, 61, 63, 65, 66, 69, 72, 76, and 79. For the most part, those are all thoroughly swaggerless.

Pierre-Paul wore No. 4 with the Baltimore Ravens last year; before that, he had only used No. 90 in the NFL and in college at USF. He wore No. 91 at College of the Canyons in California and No. 9 at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas after using No. 98 at Deerfield Beach High School in Florida.

So he’ll be using No. 14 for the first time in his football career. Former Saints quarterback Andy Dalton used it last season after running back Mark Ingram II wore it a year before; the number fell in disuse for decades until wide receiver Tommylee Lewis brought it back in 2020. Let’s hope Pierre-Paul wears it well.

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Dolphins bring up WR Tommylee Lewis for revenge game vs. Saints

Dolphins bring up WR Tommylee Lewis, OL Cameron Tom for revenge game vs. Saints

Oh, here we go. The Miami Dolphins elevated two players from their practice squad as single-game replacements for teammates on the COVID-19 reserve list — and they’re both former members of the New Orleans Saints.

Let’s start with wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. He bounced on and off of the roster in New Orleans a number of times from 2016 to 2021 before trying out for other teams, having been released with an injury designation earlier this year.

Lewis played a bit part in the receiving corps and return game with the Saints, but his most notorious moment came as the targeted receiver in the 2018 NFC championship game no-call. There are still fans that would swear to you if he’d sold his response to the illegal contact better that the referees would have thrown a flag for it (I’m inclined to agree, though I understand the 168-pounder’s thinking to try a no-sell instead).

In any case, Lewis figures to return punts for Miami in the Caesars Superdome on Monday night. He’s totaled 409 punt return yards on 46 tries in his NFL career, all with New Orleans, with a personal-best of 59 yards on a single return back in 2016. The Saints will have their hands full without four of their top six special teamers in snaps played: J.T. Gray, Jeff Heath, Kaden Elliss, and Dwayne Washington (all of them in COVID protocol).

As for the other ex-Saint called up for Week 16: that’s offensive lineman Cameron Tom, the one-time understudy to Max Unger who was supplanted by the arrival of starting center Erik McCoy and his backup Will Clapp. Tom will be the next man up if something happens to Dolphins starter Michael Deiter. Curiously, Miami previously had another former Saints backup in this role — Austin Reiter — who ended up starting five games for them, only to cut him once Deiter returned to the lineup. Reiter spent a week on the Los Angeles Rams practice squad earlier in December but was released again.

But the Saints will be busy managing their own COVID-19 issues regardless of whoever the Dolphins trot out on Monday night. As things currently stand on Saturday evening, New Orleans would have to call up 10 of the 16 players from their practice squad just to fill out a 48-man active roster on game day.

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Dolphins elevate two practice squad players as COVID replacements for Week 16

Two players jump to the active roster, and one practice squad player returns from the COVID list.

The Miami Dolphins have brought two practice squad players up to their active roster to fill in holes left by players on the reserve/COVID list.

Miami announced that punt returner/wide receiver Tommylee Lewis and center Cameron Tom will be the two players elevated.

Lewis played 11 snaps in the Week 15 matchup against the New York Jets. He returned one punt for five yards. This move could be that the Dolphins know how important Jaylen Waddle and Jevon Holland are for their respective sides of the ball, so they’d rather use a separate player to return punts.

Tom will be the backup center for the game with Greg Mancz being placed on the reserve/COVID list on Thursday. Tom has only played one snap this season, but he had some experience with the Saints earlier in his career. If Michael Deiter goes down, this could be a long night for Tua Tagovailoa and company.

On the team’s website, they also removed practice squad running back Gerrid Doaks from the reserve/COVID list, as he’s returned to the practice squad.

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Saints send veteran WR Tommylee Lewis to injured reserve

New Orleans Saints send veteran WR Tommylee Lewis to injured reserve:

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You never want to see someone’s year end with an injury. New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton announced Friday evening that the team sent wide receiver Tommylee Lewis to injured reserve as the corresponding roster move for signing free agent safety Jeff Heath.

Lewis, 28, recently joined the Saints again for training camp after he was not re-signed following the 2020 season. But a sudden injury knocked him out of practice for a few days, and now it appears his year is done. Though he’s gotten looks from other teams around the NFL, the majority of Lewis’ pro action has come with New Orleans either as a receiver or returner.

But the Saints aren’t lacking for options to pad out their depth chart. New Orleans signed former Chicago Bears No. 7 overall draft pick Kevin White earlier this week, so there are still plenty of bodies in the practice rotation. Let’s see if someone begins to separate themselves from the competition with their second preseason game waiting on the other side of this weekend.

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Ty Montgomery returns to Saints practice, but Tommylee Lewis exits

Ty Montgomery returns to Saints practice, but Tommylee Lewis exits

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The New Orleans Saints wide receivers can’t catch a break. Tre’Quan Smith recently returned to practice as an observer in street clothes while recovering from an undisclosed injury, only for Ty Montgomery to leave on a medical cart the same day. But he returned a day later during Thursday’s practice session — which his teammate Tommylee Lewis exited, joined by a member of the training staff.

It’s rough. Injuries and brief absences are expected during training camp, especially when the pads come on and players begin hitting one another at full speed. Both of the Saints’ top two draft picks, defensive end Payton Turner and linebacker Pete Werner, have missed time after getting nicked up (though Sean Payton downplayed their issues, saying neither rookie has been ruled out for Saturday’s preseason game).

Other players absent from Thursday’s training camp practice — their final day of field work before the preseason kicks off — included running back Alvin Kamara and safety Malcolm Jenkins, both receiving veteran’s rest days, as well as safeties Marcus Williams and P.J. Williams, cornerbacks KeiVarae Russell and Adonis Alexander, linebacker Quentin Poling, and wide receiver Jalen McCleskey. Minor scrapes and bruises are common this time of year, but it’s still disquieting to see so many Saints players sidelined.

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Devonta Freeman picks new Saints jersey number, Tommylee Lewis changes again

The Saints assigned Devonta Freeman a new jersey number, while Tommylee Lewis has picked his fifth different number in black and gold:

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Devonta Freeman had a problem. Beyond going turncoat in the infamous Atlanta Falcons-New Orleans Saints rivalry, he had to pick a new jersey number — all of his previous choices were unavailable. He wore No. 24 with the Falcons (claimed by backup running back Dwayne Washington) and No. 31 on the New York Giants (already taken by undrafted defensive back Bryce Thompson), and the wrong choice could kill his chances of making the team before he even took the field for practice. After all, everyone knows your jersey’s aesthetics are more important than actual skill and ability. Right?

Anyway: Freeman took No. 34, which was previously assigned to rookie running back Stevie Scott III. Scott is now wearing No. 39, which doesn’t bode well for his chances of making the cut. That number hasn’t been right since Brandon Browner used it on an infamously-terrible Saints defensive effort. Freeman was eligible to wear No. 8, which he used in college at Florida State, but the Saints must have told him that wasn’t an option. Archie Manning remains the only player in franchise history to use it.

The same can’t be said for Marques Colston’s No. 12 jersey, though. That was snatched up by recently re-signed wideout Tommylee Lewis, who had previously picked No. 6. But when Marquez Callaway switched to No. 1 (freeing up No. 12), Lewis picked his fifth jersey with the Saints, adding to his past stints in Nos. 87, 11, 14, and 6. He never actually wore No. 6 — Alvin Kamara did, though — but it does work as a footnote to his Saints career.

So what gives? Why are the Saints bending over backwards to protect Manning’s legacy as the third-best quarterback in team history behind Drew Brees and Aaron Brooks? His jersey is off-limits but Colston’s isn’t as the greatest receiver to ever wear the fleur-de-lis? If that’s the case, Lewis may as well lean into it and take Brees’ vacated No. 9 while he’s here on his fourth or fifth tour.

This weird decision continues on with other jersey numbers for Pro Football Hall of Famers like Rickey Jackson’s No. 57 (assigned to long-shot linebacker Noah Spence) and Willie Roaf’s No. 77 (currently worn by backup defensive tackle Jalen Dalton). Even Steve Gleason’s iconic No. 37 is still in circulation (with practice squad running back Tony Jones Jr.). The Saints have given more respect to Manning than to much more deserving and better-accomplished players, and, at best, it’s weird.

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Marquez Callaway officially makes switch to No. 1, Tommylee Lewis picks new jersey

New Orleans Saints receivers Marquez Callaway and Tommylee Lewis choose new jersey numbers in training camp, but Alvin Kamara stole the show:

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So there’s that mystery solved: Marquez Callaway has formally changed his jersey number from No. 12, which he wore during his 2020 rookie season, to No. 1 — the same digit he wore in college at Tennessee, which is now available to him following NFL rules changes earlier this year. He’s in a good position to live up to the high expectations that come with such a bold choice.

Additionally, recently re-signed wideout Tommylee Lewis was listed on rosters given to the media as wearing No. 6. He’s previously worn Nos. 87, 11. and 14 in different stops with the team. But because Lewis was away from the team going through COVID-19 intake protocols, his new No. 6 jersey was sitting unused in his locker.

And Alvin Kamara was quick to snatch it up before heading out to the practice field, leading to brief confusion. After all, he also wore No. 6 at Tennessee back in the day. It’s a little late for an established star like him to change jerseys, and the Saints clarified that he was just messing around (as he’s done before, having swapped practice jerseys with Teddy Bridgewater a few years ago).

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Saints re-sign Tommylee Lewis again, clear Wil Lutz and P.J. Williams to practice

Saints re-sign Tommylee Lewis again, clear Wil Lutz and P.J. Williams to practice

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Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the New Orleans Saints have re-signed Tommylee Lewis. The fifth-year wide receiver has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the team, but a recent spat of injuries and suspensions have brought him back to New Orleans yet again. Saints coach Sean Payton announced Lewis’ return in his post-training camp press conference on Friday, a day after Lewis tried out for the team as a free agent.

Expect Lewis to compete for a backup role to Deonte Harris, whose offseason DUI arrest could sideline him for a few weeks during the regular season. Lewis has appeared in the lineup sporadically over the years, primarily on special teams as a returner on punts and kickoffs, though he’s seen his share of gadget plays. Unfortunately, his most memorable moment in a Saints uniform would be no-selling the uncalled illegal hit he took in the 2018 NFC championship game. Hopefully brighter days are ahead for him.

Because the Saints had a few roster spots still available, they won’t have to release anyone just to make room for Lewis. It’s possible that further free agent tryouts or underwhelming practices prompt the team to shuffle the bottom of the depth chart, but for now Lewis’ addition brings them to 89 of 90 roster spots filled. They’ve got room for one more player with more than $11 million to burn.

Additionally, Payton said that both Wil Lutz and P.J. Williams passed their physicals and will begin practicing with the team after starting training camp on the non-football injury list. They only missed the first day, so New Orleans elected not to sign a new kicker in Lutz’s absence. Williams faces real competition at the dime spot in the secondary; he and veteran free agent pickup Brian Poole must outplay some younger teammates for snaps as the team’s sixth defensive back.

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He’s back: Saints host veteran WR Tommylee Lewis for tryout

The New Orleans Saints brought in a familiar face, with Tommylee Lewis landing in town for a reported free agent visit:

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The New Orleans Saints need help at wide receiver, but they’re still being complacent. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the team hosted free agent wide receiver Tommylee Lewis on Thursday, who has washed out with them several times before. He recently tried out for the Minnesota Vikings with Dede Westbrook, who was signed instead.

Lewis, 28, finished the 2020 season on the Saints practice squad and was not re-signed after his contract expired. He amassed 19 yards from scrimmage in five games, adding to his career total of 257 receiving yards and 49 rushing yards in 39 games — all played with the Saints. He’s tried out for other teams and spent time on a couple of different rosters in the offseason, but his only regular season action has come with New Orleans.

So his arrival only really makes sense if he’s expected to help fill in for Deonte Harris during his anticipated two-game suspension following a DUI arrest. And even then, the Saints have better options in the return game like Marquez Callaway. Lewis is an end-of-depth chart addition if he gets signed at all. For now, his visit did not end with any pens put to paper.

It’s part of a troubling trend at receiver for the Saints. They’ve neglected the position for years, to their detriment, and are looking for underwhelming pickups when they should be seeking to get better. They haven’t added anyone who moves the needle and don’t appear to be interested in doing that. It puts a lot of pressure on their quarterbacks and doesn’t exactly grease the runway for either Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston. Here’s hoping Sean Payton can continue to scheme up success from a talent-deficient group.

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Besides Dede Westbrook, here are some other interesting tryouts the Vikings had this week

Here are some other players who worked out with the Minnesota Vikings this week:

By now, it’s been well documented that Dede Westbrook had a workout with the Vikings this week.

Not only that, but the free agent wide receiver is expected to sign with Minnesota today, according to a report. 

But what about some other players who were trying out with the Vikings? Minnesota also worked out QB Jackson Erdmann and WR Tommylee Lewis this week.

Erdmann played high school football at Rosemount (Minn.) and went on to play collegiate football at St. John’s, the Division III college also in Minnesota. If the Viking like Erdmann, he could compete for a practice squad spot with Nate Stanley and Jake Browning.

Lewis is also an enticing tryout player. He signed with the Saints as an undrafted rookie out of Northern Illinois in 2016. From there, New Orleans has used him sparingly as a special teams player and depth option at wideout.  With his experience at punt returner and wide receiver, Lewis may be too similar stylistically to Westbrook for the Vikings to rationalize signing both players.

As of now, it seems as though Minnesota has made its choice in Westbrook. That said, there is no credible reports of a deal being officially done and signed at the time this article was published.