Two former Saints running backs sign with new teams ahead of Week 16

Two former New Orleans Saints running backs have signed with new teams

The New Orleans Saints have had many former players moving around the NFL this season, and two more have now signed with new teams ahead of the Week 16 slate of games. Both players are former Saints running backs who have been on the team within the last year or so and were cut due to the team already having relatively substantial running back depth with four on the active roster and two more on the practice squad.

The first player is Jacob Kibodi, who has signed with the Cleveland Browns practice squad, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston. Kibodi was an undrafted free-agent signing for the Saints and had a decent showing in the preseason before being waived and added to the practice squad. He ultimately was released by the Saints earlier in the month and has found a new landing spot with the Cleveland Browns after an injury to Nick Chubb. Kibodi had two touchdowns in a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans earlier in the year, along with 12 rushes for 59 yards.

The second running back is Tony Jones Jr., who will be signing with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, according to Wilson. Jones has had stops with a few different teams in the last few years, including the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, and Arizona Cardinals. He had previously been released by the Cardinals with an injury designation in August, however, they have now brought him back a couple of months later. He had two separate stints with the Saints, as well, starting off with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent and remaining from 2020 to 2022, and then returning in 2023 to score his first two career touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers.

Ultimately, with the signing of Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the Saints did not have much room for another running back addition, and now two of their former ones will move on to new teams prior to the Week 16 slate of games.