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New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

Jaguars Claim Devine Ozigbo Off Waivers

November 1st, 2021 at 4:05pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars have claimed running back Devine Ozigbo off waivers from the Saints (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). Ozigbo will return to Jacksonville to potentially fill in for the injured James Robinson.

Ozigbo, a Nebraska product, first entered the league in 2019 as an undrafted free agent with the Saints. He later moved on to the Jaguars and spent two-plus years in Jacksonville. In that span, he saw time in 18 games, collecting 93 yards from scrimmage on 22 touches. The 25-year-old did most of his work on special teams and he’ll likely reprise some of those duties in the second half of the year.

Robinson is considered day-to-day with the foot injury he suffered against the Seahawks. His status for the Bills is TBD, which means that Carlos Hyde and Dare Ogunbowale could see an uptick in playing time. In that event, Ozigbo figures to slot in behind them as they aim for win No. 2 on Sunday.

Saints’ Jameis Winston Done For Year

November 1st, 2021 at 12:23pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s official. On Monday afternoon, Saints head coach Sean Payton announced that Jameis Winston has been diagnosed with a torn ACL (Twitter link via Saints). 

[RELATED: Brees Won’t Come Out Of Retirement For Saints]

Winston also suffered MCL damage, which may prolong his recovery. The timing is especially unfortunate for the quarterback as he’ll be out of contract in the spring.

Winston, the first-overall pick in the 2015 draft, joined New Orleans in 2020 following five underwhelming years in Tampa Bay. He saw time in four games during his first Saints season, completing seven of his 11 pass attempts for 75 yards. He also came up key during the Saints’ postseason loss to the Buccaneers, completing his lone pass attempt for 56 yards and a score. After that, he returned on a one-year deal with $5.5MM guaranteed and the potential to earn up to $12MM via incentives, most of which he will not earn now that he’s shelved for the second half.

The Saints will either turn the offense over to backup Trevor Siemian or Taysom Hill, depending on Hill’s post-concussion status. They could also weigh some out-of-house options, but NBC analyst Drew Brees and free agent Cam Newton will not be among those considered.

Saints Won’t Consider Cam Newton

November 1st, 2021 at 9:29am CST by Zachary Links

We can now rule out two big-name quarterbacks for the Saints. Drew Brees won’t un-retire to replace Jameis Winston, nor will the Saints consider free agent Cam Newton as a potential Jameis Winston replacement, according to a team source who spoke with PFT (Twitter link). 

Newton is available and vaccinated, but the Saints seem to prefer their in-house options. Backup Trevor Siemian was solid in Winston’s stead last night while Taysom Hill could be ready to return from his Week 5 concussion.

As the Panthers’ star QB, Newton did some of his best work against the Saints. However, he finished near the bottom of the league in cumulative QBR from 2016-19 and fell flat with the Pats last year. In 2020, the former MVP threw for just 2,657 yards and eight touchdowns with ten interceptions. On the plus side, he displayed his usual rushing talent, collecting 592 yards and 12 TDs on the ground, plus a receiving touchdown.

The Saints will likely be without Winston and definitely be without Newton on Sunday when they face the Falcons. Depending on the outcome of Bucs-WFT, a win could put the Saints in the NFC South lead.

Drew Brees: I Won’t Return To Saints

November 1st, 2021 at 9:18am CST by Zachary Links

Drew Brees is not walking through that door. After Jameis Winston suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury, the former Saints quarterback told NBC broadcast partner Mike Tirico that he will not consider a mid-season return (via NOLA.com). 

[RELATED: Saints Fear Torn ACL For Jameis Winston] 

“Let me check [my phone],” Brees said jokingly when asked about his availability to play this week. “I’ll be there Saturday to call the Notre Dame-Navy game, and I’ll be [in the broadcast booth on] Sunday,” Brees said.

Brees, 42, seems happy in his post-football career. He’s also confident in backup Trevor Siemian, who guided the Saints to victory over the Bucs following Winston’s exit.

“I think he’s going to do well,” Brees said. “That’s exactly why he brought him in last year when I got hurt. He’s a cerebral guy who can pick up the system quickly. He can execute it. The bottom line is he has two really good running backs and a great defense. He’ll play within the system and I think Sean Payton has a lot of confidence in him.”

The Saints won’t have the 13-time Pro Bowler back under center, but they could see Taysom Hill return this week once he clears concussion protocol.

Saints Fear Torn ACL For Jameis Winston

October 31st, 2021 at 9:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Jameis Winston‘s season could be over. The Saints believe their quarterback has suffered a torn ACL, plus additional damage to the MCL (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 

“I think it’s significant. He felt something,” head coach Sean Payton said after the game (Twitter link). “I don’t want to say [what it might be] until I’ve had a chance to talk to the doctors.”

Winston’s leg twisted in the second quarter on a hit from linebacker Devin White. After the QB was carted off of the field, backup Trevor Siemian guided the Saints to a 36-27 win over the Buccaneers. Of course, much of the credit goes to the Saints D, which forced three turnovers from Tom Brady, including P.J. Williams‘ game-sealing pick six.

The Saints could stick with Siemian, depending on Taysom Hill‘s status. Hill has been out for the last few weeks with a concussion, so his availability for Week 9 against the Falcons is TBD.

Before his early exit, Winston completed six of his ten throws for 56 yards and one touchdown, plus four carries for 40 yards. His season will likely end with a 59% completion rate for 1,170 passing yards and 14 TDs against three interceptions.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/21

October 30th, 2021 at 4:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is the Week 8 Saturday minor move blitz:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets 

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Saints Acquired Mark Ingram For 7th-Round Pick 

October 29th, 2021 at 12:35pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints only gave up a 2024 seventh-round draft pick in their trade for Mark Ingram (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The Texans — in the midst of a major reboot — effectively moved the running back in a salary dump. 

Ingram has also inked a brand new deal with his old pals (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). Ingram is now signed through 2022 thanks to a one-year extension that could pay up to $2.8M next year. He’ll also take a haircut for this year — his salary has gone from $1.5MM to $1.075MM while his per-game bonuses have been wiped out. Ultimately, he’ll carry a cap charge of just ~$657K for the Saints this year. Next season, he’ll collect $1.5MM in salary, plus a $300K roster bonus, $500K total in per-game perks, and another $500K in potential incentives.

The 2011 first-rounder spent the first eight seasons of his career in New Orleans, tallying 55 total touchdowns. In those last two Saints years, he formed one of the league’s best RB duos with Alvin Kamara. He’ll look to recapture that magic again as the Saints try and lessen Kamara’s workload. So far this year, Kamara is averaging 19 rushing attempts per game, up from the 11.2 totes per contest he averaged previously.

Ingram is expected to make his New Orleans re-debut on Halloween when the Saints host the Buccaneers.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/28/21

October 28th, 2021 at 3:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Saints’ Andrus Peat To Undergo Surgery

October 28th, 2021 at 1:25pm CST by Zachary Links

THURSDAY: Peat did suffer a torn pec, according to NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill, who notes the veteran guard will undergo surgery Friday. While Peat has missed his share of games as a pro, this season stands to be his longest absence.

TUESDAY: The Saints fear that left guard Andrus Peat is dealing with a torn pectoral muscle (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The injury forced Peat out of Monday night’s win over Seattle and could be a season-ender.

[RELATED: Saints’ Lutz Done For Year]

Peat, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 draft, has been a Saints regular for the past seven years with appearances at left tackle, left guard, right tackle, and even some snaps as an extra blocker/tight end. For much of that span, the Saints ranked No. 1 in the league in points per game while surrendering only 124 sacks.

Peat started in all six of his games this year, giving him a grand total of 79 starts at every O-Line spot, save for center. It’s a frustrating setback for the 27-year-old (28 in November), but he’s bounced back from injuries before. In 2019, a Pro Bowl year, he missed the final six games of the year with a broken arm. He returned in 2020 to capture another Pro Bowl nod, his third consecutive honor.

While the Saints await confirmation on Peat’s injury, they’ll deploy Calvin Throckmorton at left guard against the Buccaneers.

NFL Minor Transactions: 10/27/21

October 27th, 2021 at 6:30pm CST by Ben Levine

All of today’s minor transactions in one place:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

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