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New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/23/20

December 23rd, 2020 at 4:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: DB Kemon Hall

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Joey Hunt

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

  • Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: T Jonathan Hubbard

New England Patriots

  • Signed: DT Isaiah Mack
  • Released: TE Paul Quessenberry

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: TE Kevin Rader
  • Released: LB Christian Kuntz

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/22/20

December 22nd, 2020 at 6:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Anthony Edwards

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

  • Activated off practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Ishmael Hyman

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: RB Spencer Ware
  • Activated off practice squad injured list: WR Thomas Ives

Cleveland Browns

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Elijah Benton

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE David Irving

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Released: OL Andrew Jones

Washington Football Team

Saints Place Jameis Winston On Reserve/COVID-19 List

December 20th, 2020 at 10:59am CST by Rory Parks

The Saints will have quarterback Drew Brees back in action this afternoon, but they will be without their expected backup. The team announced that it has placed Jameis Winston on the reserve/COVID-19 list, thereby ruling him out for New Orleans’ much-anticipated battle with the Chiefs. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, Winston did not test positive for the coronavirus, but he is a close contact of someone who did.

The plan was to have Winston serve as Brees’ QB2 so that Taysom Hill, who went 3-1 as as Brees’ replacement under center over the past four games, could resume his jack-of-all-trades role. However, Winston’s placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list means that Hill will be the backup signal-caller, and the Saints may be more reluctant to deploy him as a runner/receiver as a result.

Just this morning, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports wrote that Winston could have a future with the Saints beyond the 2020 campaign. Though Hill signed an extension in April and is expected to become the team’s starting QB in 2021 — assuming Brees retires — New Orleans has reportedly been impressed with Winston’s work ethic and ability.

The former No. 1 overall pick of the Buccaneers signed a modest one-year, $1MM pact with the Saints this year in an effort to rebuild his value, and there may be opportunities for him elsewhere in the coming offseason. But given Hill’s lack of experience, the Saints might still represent his best chance to win a starting job.

After a wild roller coaster ride in 2019 that saw him lead the league in passing yards (5,109) while throwing for 33 TDs against a stunning 30 interceptions, Winston has attempted just 10 passes this season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/20

December 19th, 2020 at 3:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Saints Place WR Michael Thomas On IR

December 19th, 2020 at 12:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Michael Thomas is done for the regular season, but it sounds like he could be back in time for the playoffs. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Saints are placing their star wideout on injured reserve, noting that the Saints “expect him close to 100% for the start of the postseason.”

Thomas has been dealing with an ankle injury since the start of the season. The high ankle sprain (along with a coinciding suspension for punching a teammate) sidelined him until Week 9.

Despite only playing alongside Drew Brees in two of the six games upon his return, Thomas has still hauled in 37 receptions for 421 yards over that span. He’s also been held without a touchdown this season. This has certainly been a change for one of the NFL’s most consistent players over the past few years. The former second-round pick had only missed two games coming into this season and entered 2020 coming off a record 149-reception 2019 slate.

The Saints were also able to establish an eight-game win streak during Thomas’ absence. And while they are home underdogs to the Chiefs in Week 15, the team will be favored to beat the Vikings and Panthers without its All-Pro wideout. New Orleans won two games without Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders earlier this season. Sanders, however, is healthy now. The free agent acquisition and Tre’Quan Smith will be Brees’ top available wideouts for the regular season’s remainder.

That said, the Saints have won one road playoff game in franchise history. Thomas’ absence will make it more difficult for New Orleans to earn the NFC’s lone bye, potentially forcing the Saints to play on the road in the conference title game — should they advance that far in the playoffs.

Saints’ Michael Thomas To Miss Week 15

December 18th, 2020 at 4:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Drew Brees will be back for the Saints this week, he will not have his top target available. The Saints have ruled Michael Thomas out for their Week 15 game against the Chiefs.

The first half of Thomas’ season wound up marred by multiple injuries and a team-imposed suspension, but the All-Pro wide receiver returned in Week 9 and has not missed time since. More ankle trouble, however, will keep the fifth-year star on the sidelines Sunday.

Thomas did not practice this week. He entered this season as one of the NFL’s most dependable wideouts, having missed just two games in four years. Taysom Hill targeted Thomas frequently during his four starts, with two of those producing 100-plus-yard games. Last week, Thomas caught eight passes for 84 yards. He will enter the Saints’ Christmas game — should he be cleared to return by next week — without a touchdown reception.

This is a clear blow for a Saints team that is a rare home underdog against the 12-1 Chiefs. The 10-3 Saints losing Sunday would likely prevent them from securing the NFC’s bye. New Orleans, however, won four straight games without Thomas earlier this year — and two of those victories came with Emmanuel Sanders out as well — but the Chiefs are a tougher beat than any team the Saints have defeated this season.

Drew Brees Returns To Saints Practice, To Start Week 15

December 18th, 2020 at 8:51am CST by Sam Robinson

Dec. 18: Brees will get the start in the Saints’ key matchup with the Chiefs this weekend, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The team believes Brees is fully healthy, and the Saints’ doctors have cleared him to play. The Saints activated Brees from IR on Saturday. New Orleans fell out of the NFC’s top seed thanks to its loss to the Eagles last week, and a loss in the marquee battle with Kansas City could scuttle any hopes of a first-round bye.

Dec. 16: As expected, the Saints made the official step of designating Drew Brees to return to practice Wednesday. Although Brees practiced for the first time since suffering a punctured lung and 11 rib fractures Nov. 15, he still has some hurdles to negotiate before returning to action.

The Saints want to see the future Hall of Fame passer display a full range of motion before sending him back into action. His timetable has gone from being a good bet to start against the Chiefs on Sunday to being questionable “at best” for that pivotal interconference matchup.

“He’s got a ways to go still, and he’s someone we’re not gonna just hurry back and just put him in the game,” Sean Payton said, via ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett. “I think the significance of the injuries are such that you’ve gotta make sure he can function and feel confident.”

Brees fared well Wednesday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who notes the soon-to-be 42-year-old passer was not in much pain while practicing for the first time officially in a month (video link). The Saints have three weeks to activate Brees. While the Saints are 8-1 without Brees over the past two seasons, their loss to the Eagles allowed the Packers to move past them in the race for the NFC’s bye.

Drew Brees Without Return Timetable

December 15th, 2020 at 6:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

While it would aid the Saints’ Super Bowl hopes if Drew Brees were able to suit up against the Chiefs on Sunday, it is starting to look like that will be a long shot.

The future Hall of Fame passer does not have a return timetable, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com notes the Saints want to see their starter have a full range of motion before returning. Brees would not have been able to play against the Eagles and is expected to be questionable “at best” to suit up against the Chiefs. Brees’ last throwing session did not go especially well, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). He will attempt to throw again Wednesday.

This comes several days after Schefter reported Brees was progressing well and was a good bet to return for the Chiefs matchup. The Saints are hoping Brees can practice on a limited basis this week, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com adds (video link). New Orleans still holds a de facto three-game NFC South lead, thanks to its sweep of Tampa Bay, and has games against Minnesota and Carolina on tap to close the regular season.

Brees suffered numerous cracked ribs and a punctured lung last month, and the Saints have used Taysom Hill as their starter over the past four games. New Orleans’ loss in Philadelphia, however, gave Green Bay the inside track on the NFC’s lone bye. No team has qualified for a Super Bowl without a bye since 2012, and the Saints have only won one road playoff game in franchise history. However, more teams figure to advance to Super Bowls sans byes in the coming years due to the new playoff format, and a trip to Green Bay this season would not be as daunting for playoff teams — due to COVID-19 attendance restrictions. The Saints are one game up on the Rams and Seahawks for the NFC’s No. 2 seed.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/15/20

December 15th, 2020 at 5:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Derwin James; James remains on IR

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Waived: CB Brandon Williams

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/12/20

December 12th, 2020 at 4:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Here is Saturday’s usual barrage of minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jachai Polite; Polite tested positive for the coronavirus, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (via Twitter)

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

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