HEADLINES

New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

Saints Release TE Erik Swoope

December 13th, 2018 at 3:51pm CST by Zachary Links

After claiming tight end Erik Swoope off waivers on Wednesday, the Saints are releasing him, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Swoope spent less than 24 hours in New Orleans and he’ll now go straight back on the waiver wire. 

The Saints’ juggling is perplexing, though it could be a sign of a larger move to come. The Saints have been hoping to get wide receiver Ted Ginn back on the field and, if he can’t go, offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus is also a candidate for return.

Help from LeRibeus, who appeared in all 16 games last season, would be nice, but Ginn would probably be more of a difference-maker. Last year, Ginn turned in one of his better offensive seasons with 53 catches for 787 yards and four scores. He can also aid in the return game, where he has thrived in the past.

Swoope, meanwhile, could easily wind up back with Indianpolis, where he is a beloved locker room presence.

NFL Workout Updates: 12/12/18

December 12th, 2018 at 7:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers

Saints Waive WR Brandon Marshall

December 12th, 2018 at 3:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have released wide receiver Brandon Marshall, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move will create room for tight end Erik Swoope, who has been claimed off waivers from the Colts (Twitter link via Mike Florio of PFT). 

It was a short stay in New Orleans for Marshall, who was signed in November when Dez Bryant tore his Achilles just hours after inking his contract. Despite spending a full month with the team, Marshall never saw the field. Instead, he was used as a scout team receiver and was unable to leapfrog the team’s top five of Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Austin Carr, Keith Kirkwood, and Tommylee Lewis.

The fact that Marshall could not crack the rotation in spite of injuries to Bryant, Cameron Meredith, and Ted Ginn Jr. probably doesn’t bode well for his NFL future. The transaction could also be a sign that Ginn still has a chance to return from IR this year, but there’s no word on that front just yet.

Marshall is a six-time Pro Bowler, but he hasn’t played at an elite level since the 2015 season in which he posted 109 receptions, 1,502 yards, and a league-leading 14 touchdowns for the Jets. Injuries have limited his effectiveness and overall production, and it’s fair to wonder if this will mark his last stop in the league.

Swoope, meanwhile, joins the club just hours after being discarded by the Colts. He was largely eclipsed by Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle this year, but he still managed three touchdown grabs in 2018. Swoope – for the moment – is one of four TEs on the roster along with Ben Watson, Josh Hill, and Dan Arnold.

Latest On Derek Newton's Saints Signing

December 11th, 2018 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • Derek Newton‘s Saints contract is a two-year pact, according to his agency (Twitter link). It appears the Saints will use their upcoming practices to gauge whether the former longtime Texans right tackle is fit enough to the point he could be more than an injury fill-in.

Saints Sign T Derek Newton

December 11th, 2018 at 4:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Michael Ola‘s ankle injury will result in the Saints sending the offensive lineman to IR, and it represents an interesting chapter in a long comeback story.

The Saints, per Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter), will fill Ola’s roster spot with free agent tackle Derek Newton, who has not played football since October 2016.

While Newton’s career was thought to be over, the formerly dependable Texans tackle has participated in workouts during the 2018 season — most recently with the Saints. That audition will land the 31-year-old blocker a job with the 11-2 Saints.

Ola went down with a high ankle sprain during the Saints’ win over the Buccaneers, according to NOLA.com’s Josh Katzenstein (on Twitter). A journeyman who has started one game in the past three seasons, that coming this year for the Saints, Ola will end the year on IR. He has not played for the same team in consecutive seasons since coming into the league, spending time with the Bears, Lions, Chargers, Bills and Saints.

A 2011 seventh-round pick out of Arkansas State, Newton was the Texans’ starting right tackle from 2012’s first game until that career-defining night in Denver. Newton tore both of his patella tendons in that game. The Texans waived Newton via failed physical designation in April, and he field a $500K grievance. But Newton then worked out for the Jets, Cardinals and Saints in the fall. He may soon have a chance to suit up in a game again.

If Newton suits up for the Saints, he will be the first player in NFL history to dress for a game after suffering two patella tendon tears. Former Bears wide receiver Wendell Davis and former Ravens and Browns cornerback Gary Baxter returned to practice but never again suited up for a game after suffering these severe injuries, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).

Eagles To Sign RB Boston Scott Off Saints’ Practice Squad

December 10th, 2018 at 9:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles’ running back room has seen some twists and turns this season, and Corey Clement‘s latest injury provided another Sunday.

As a result, the Eagles are bringing in outside help. Philadelphia signed Boston Scott off New Orleans’ practice squad on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

A rookie sixth-round pick, Scott has spent the season on the Saints’ taxi squad. He was an initial New Orleans roster cut but landed on the practice squad shortly after cutdown weekend. He has not suited up for a game yet. The Louisiana Tech alum rushed for 1,047 yards as a senior last season.

With the Eagles already employing Clement, Darren Sproles, Josh Adams and Wendell Smallwood, this would point to a Clement IR trip — unless the defending Super Bowl champions are keen on keeping five running backs. Clement missed time earlier this season but resurfaced in Philly’s rotation for productive outings against the Giants and Redskins.

Saints Deciding Between Ted Ginn, Josh LeRibeus For IR-Return Spot?

December 10th, 2018 at 6:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints could make a high- or low-profile IR-return move in the coming days. Both Ted Ginn and offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus remain candidates to return from IR this season, Sean Payton said.

“Rehab is going well. It’s still an option,” Payton said of a return from one of these players (via Fox 8 Live). “Both he (Ginn) and LeRibeus, I would say are on schedule. … I’m encouraged by how both of those guys are doing.”

Only one of these players can return this season. The Saints used one of their IR-boomerang slots on wideout/specialist Tommylee Lewis.

This decision presumably hinges on how Ginn’s recovery looks, with the starting wide receiver a once-integral part of New Orleans’ aerial attack. Ginn underwent surgery in October and is eligible to return from IR this week. But with the 33-year-old deep threat having yet to practice since the IR designation, it’s unlikely he’d be ready to go for Week 15 against the Panthers — even if the Saints use the IR-return spot on him this week.

New Orleans has featured a rotating cast of Michael Thomas sidekicks this season, with rookie Tre’Quan Smith being the most frequent complementary piece deployed. Ginn caught nine passes for 123 yards in the Saints’ first two games and recorded 787 receiving yards last season.

LeRibeus filled in as a spot starter up front in three games this season. He played in 16 Saints games in 2017. The 29-year-old lineman also is recovering from an ankle injury and would seemingly be the backup plan in case Ginn cannot come back.

Ingram Unlikely To Be Back With Saints In 2019?

December 8th, 2018 at 10:01pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg
  • The odds that Mark Ingram is a member of the Saints beyond this season are not high, according to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com. Katzenstein thinks there’s a roughly one in three chance that Ingram is back next year, and writes “it’s sensible business not to pay an aging running back when there’s a young stud already on the roster”, meaning Alvin Kamara. Katzenstein thinks Ingram’s four game suspension to start the year also hurt his relationship with the team, and the Saints will look for a cheaper option next year to split time with Kamara.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/6/18

December 6th, 2018 at 7:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: OL Mason Gentry, WR Daniel Williams

Indianapolis Colts

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

NFL Workout Updates: 12/3/18

December 3rd, 2018 at 9:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is the latest from the workout circuit. All links to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise noted.

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

  • G Salesi Uhatafe (link)

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Oakland Raiders

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Redskins

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