A difficult defensive season for the Saints worsened on Thanksgiving Day, when they placed top cornerback Keenan Lewis on season-ending injured reserve, Evan Woodberry of NOLA.com reports.
Lewis’ injury-riddled season endured its final blow against Washington two weeks ago after suffering a knee injury.
The Saints signed Chris Owens to fill Lewis’ spot, and the veteran cornerback practiced with the team Thursday, Woodberry reports.
The veteran cornerback missed four games this season and underwent a sports hernia operation, which limited Lewis to participation in just six contests this season and only one start. He only played 106 snaps in New Orleans this year.
This came as a stark contrast for the 29-year-old Lewis, who functioned as the Saints’ top corner the past two seasons after signing as a free agent in 2013.
Lewis, who started 32 games the past two years and snared six interceptions, missed time this offseason with the Saints before the team reworked his contract to add additional guaranteed money. The 2016 portion of Lewis’ contract features a now-fully guaranteed $2.7MM base salary and a $6.3MM cap figure. Lewis is under contract with New Orleans until the 2017 season.
The 29-year-old Owens most recently played with the Chiefs in 2014 after serving as a Falcons cog from 2009-12.