Marshon Lattimore

Saints’ Derek Carr In Concussion Protocol; CB Marshon Lattimore, WR Michael Thomas Facing “Signficant Injuries”

November 13th, 2023 at 4:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Saints exited Week 10 with a loss and the absence of three key players. Head coach Dennis Allen addressed the status of quarterback Derek Carr, cornerback Marshon Lattimore and receiver Michael Thomas on Monday.

Carr underwent testing on his shoulder, but no damage has been done on that front, Allen announced. That is a welcomed development given the AC joint sprain the 32-year-old suffered earlier in the season. However, Carr is in the league’s concussion protocol. His ability to clear the protocol will be worth watching closely, but with New Orleans on the bye in Week 11, the four-time Pro Bowler has plenty of time to receive clearance.

Veteran backup Jameis Winston filled in for Carr to close out yesterday’s game. The former delivered a performance on par with what one would expect from the former No. 1 pick (122 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 13-of-25 passing), helping bring New Orleans close to a comeback against the Vikings. Allen reiterated – as he did in his post-game remarks – however, that Carr will remain the undisputed starter when healthy.

Allen indicated the news for Lattimore and Thomas is less encouraging. He said (via Greg Auman of Fox Sports) that both veterans suffered “fairly signficant injuries,” adding that they are not considered season-ending. Each Pro Bowler is seeking a second opinion before deciding on a course of action. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Lattimore is dealing with a high ankle sprain, as was originally indicated. He is week-to-week as a result.

Thomas exited the Minnesota game after only two offensive snaps due to a knee injury. Given his history of missed time, Allen’s remarks could very well point to an new absence being in play despite the bye week coming at a favorable time. Thomas last played a full season in 2019, the year in which he set the league’s single-season record for receptions in a campaign (149). The two-time All-Pro has rebounded to a degree from numerous ailments since then with 448 yards on 39 catches this season. He has yet to miss a game in 2023.

Sitting at 5-5, the Saints lead the NFC South, so a quick recovery from each veteran would be a major development for their playoff push. Likewise, any notable absences would deal a blow to a team which has struggled to find consistency on offense in particular during the year. Further evaluations for Lattimore and Thomas will be worth watching for as they will shed light on potential recovery timelines.

NFL Injury Roundup: Saints, Watson, Heinicke, Thibodeaux

November 12th, 2023 at 7:41pm CST by Ely Allen

The Saints played much of the second half of their loss to the Vikings today without quarterback Derek Carr after the veteran passer took a nasty-looking hit from Danielle Hunter. It was announced that he was out for the remainder of the game with an injury to his throwing shoulder and that he was being evaluated for a concussion, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Further reports, provided by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, claimed that while the initial belief is that Carr avoided a major shoulder injury, he will undergo more tests in order to determine the severity. Head coach Dennis Allen told the media that Carr was only held out of the game because of a concussion, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, and refused to comment any further on the situation.

In Carr’s absence, former starter Jameis Winston performed admirably. He only completed just over half of his pass attempts for 122 yards and threw two interceptions, but he also threw the team’s two touchdowns in order to bring the Saints within spitting distance of the Vikings. Despite Winston’s seemingly superior effectiveness, Allen assured the media that, when Carr is healthy, there is no quarterback competition.

Lastly, veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore left the game, as well, with what is believed to be an ankle sprain, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He will undergo an MRI tomorrow in order to determine the severity of his ankle injury.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was forced to leave the field at times today during the Browns come-from-behind victory over the division-rival Ravens. He suffered an ankle injury late in the first half of the contest and, though he remained in the game for stretches at a time, he was noticeably limping at times. After the game, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that Watson was in a walking boot. Watson claimed that while “he doesn’t feel great now…(he’ll) be fine” and should be ready to go next weekend.
Yet another quarterback was forced to leave their game today due to injury when the Falcons‘ new starting passer, Taylor Heinicke, was forced to leave early in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. This required Atlanta to return to former starter Desmond Ridder for the remainder of the contest. Ridder was fairly effective, leading the Falcons on a touchdown drive before failing to convert the two-point attempt that would’ve given the team a three-point lead. The team would go on to lose by those two points after Arizona kicked a game-winning field goal. This likely doesn’t change the team’s quarterback situation, if Heinicke is healthy enough to play, but hamstring injuries can be lingering and might open up more opportunities for Ridder.
In a blowout loss to Dallas this afternoon, Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux was knocked out of the game with a concussion, per NFL Network’s Jane Slater. Thibodeaux’s absence opened up some playing opportunities for Boogie Basham, who saw an increased role due to injuries last week, as well.

Restructure Details: Cousins, Bills, Cowboys, Saints, Warner, Jets, Texans

March 15th, 2023 at 4:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Facing a Kirk Cousins cap crunch last year, the Vikings worked out a third contract with their starting quarterback. They did not take that path this year. Minnesota instead agreed to a restructure, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The reworking frees up $16MM in cap space for the Vikings, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweets. The Vikes look to have tacked on two more void years to Cousins’ deal. While the void years — for cap-reducing purposes — run through 2027, Cousins’ contract expires after the 2023 season. No extension is imminent.

The 34-year-old passer has enjoyed leverage throughout his Vikings relationship — via his free agency in 2018, ahead of his 2020 contract year on that fully guaranteed deal, and in 2022 as his second Vikes pact was set to produce a historic cap hit — but Minnesota’s new regime may now be looking toward moving on after the season. This will be a situation to monitor moving forward; Cousins has not played in a contract year since his 2017 Washington finale.

Here is the latest on teams’ restructures:

The Bills moved close to the 2023 league year in a cap hole, but they restructured the deals of their two highest-profile players to create considerable space. Buffalo reworked Josh Allen and Von Miller‘s contracts to create approximately $32MM in space, ESPN’s Field Yates tweets. The Bills have moved their way up past $8MM in cap room.
Per usual, the Saints have been hard at work on restructures. They adjusted the deals of Cameron Jordan, Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore to create cap space, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Katherine Terrell (all Twitter links). The Jordan move created more than $10MM in cap space for New Orleans, which was back to being north of $20MM over the cap following its Derek Carr signing. As the league year begins, New Orleans made it under the cap by just more than $300K.
In addition to restructuring Tyron Smith‘s deal to ensure the All-Decade tackle plays a 13th season with the team, the Cowboys adjusted the contracts of DeMarcus Lawrence and Michael Gallup, Todd Archer of ESPN.com notes (Twitter links). Between them, the Lawrence and Gallup restructures freed up around $16MM for Dallas, which had already created more than $30MM in space by redoing Dak Prescott and Zack Martin‘s deals last week.
The 49ers restructured Fred Warner‘s extension, according to Yates (on Twitter). The move created nearly $9MM in cap space for San Francisco, which gave Javon Hargrave a four-year, $84MM deal to start the legal tampering period. A void year now exists in Warner’s contract, which runs through 2026 (with the void year coming in 2027). Warner’s cap number drops to $9MM but spikes past $24MM in 2024, which will probably prompt more maneuvering from the 49ers. They currently hold just more than $12MM in cap space.
Circling back to the Vikings, Jordan Hicks agreed to a restructure that will keep him in Minnesota this season, Insidethebirds.com’s Adam Caplan tweets. Hicks signed a two-year, $10MM deal with the Vikings last year.
Amid their Aaron Rodgers pursuit, the Jets created $4.8MM in cap space by restructuring John Franklin-Myers‘ contract, Yates tweets. Two void years are attached to the defensive lineman’s pact, which runs through 2025.
Texans safety Eric Murray agreed to a restructured deal as well, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes. Attached to a two-year, $10MM deal he signed in 2022, Murray remains on a Texans team that has seen its roster become crowded at safety. The team has added Jimmie Ward and re-signed M.J. Stewart this week. Murray played 17 games for the Texans last season but did not start any. This sounds like a pay-cut agreement, with Wilson adding Murray can make up to $4MM this season.

Saints CB Marshon Lattimore Closer To Return, WR Jarvis Landry To IR

December 22nd, 2022 at 5:57pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints revealed some good and bad news on the injury front today. Coach Dennis Allen told reporters that cornerback Marshon Lattimore continues to progress, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football (on Twitter). However, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reveals (on Twitter) that wideout Jarvis Landry is heading to injured reserve.

Lattimore has been sidelined since October after suffering a lacerated kidney. The Pro Bowler has missed nine games with the injury, but Allen told reporters that the defensive back is “as close as he’s been” to returning to the field. The Saints will continue to monitor Lattimore, and while it sounds like he’ll be back before long, there’s no guarantee that he’ll play against the Browns this weekend.

Landry suffered an ankle injury that limited him to only 19 offensive snaps in Week 15. An ankle injury also forced the veteran wideout to miss most of October and a bit of November. With his placement on IR, Landry wouldn’t be allowed to return to the Saints until the postseason.

Landry hasn’t put up big numbers during his first season in New Orleans, hauling in 25 receptions for 272 yards and one touchdown. Still, when he’s been active, he’s played at least half of the Saints offensive snaps, and he’s effectively served as the team’s WR2 behind rookie Chris Olave.

The veteran’s placement on IR is poor timing for the Saints, as Olave has also been ruled out this weekend with a hamstring injury. Tre’Quan Smith will likely lead the depth chart, with Rashid Shaheed and Marquez Callaway also soaking up snaps.

Saints Rule Out Five Starters For Week 7

October 19th, 2022 at 9:34pm CST by Ely Allen

While their opponent has added a pair of contributors in DeAndre Hopkins and Robbie Anderson, the Saints will come into Thursday down five more starters than they were hoping for, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Injuries continue to plague New Orleans as it has ruled out wide receivers Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry, tight end Adam Trautman, guard Andrus Peat, and cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

Peat suffered a pectoral strain, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Saints have not placed the eighth-year blocker on IR, but he is week-to-week at this point. Thomas also remains on the team’s active roster, but the team considered placing him on IR due to the foot injury he sustained, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com tweets. The Saints instead opted to keep Thomas active in case he beat his recovery timetable. After missing just two games over his first four seasons, Thomas has now missed 28 games since 2020.

The Saints, who were hoping to get back Thomas from a three-week absence and Landry from a two-week absence, will now go into their Week 7 matchup with the Cardinals missing two of their starting slate of receivers for the third week in a row. Rookie first-round pick Chris Olave is set to return after missing time last week with a concussion that knocked him out of the team’s Week 5 win over the Seahawks.

Olave is set to see a huge share of targets with Thomas and Landry out, as will backup receivers Marquez Callaway and Tre’Quan Smith. Behind star running back Alvin Kamara and Juwan Johnson, who transitioned to tight end in the NFL after playing wide receiver at Penn State, Callaway and Smith were the top targets last week for Andy Dalton, who has been filling in for injured starting quarterback Jameis Winston. When Olave was in the week before, he matched Kamara for the team lead in targets with six apiece. Smith and Callaway trailed the two with four and three, respectively.

Lattimore is also set to miss his second straight game with an abdomen injury. In his absence last week, the Saints asked veteran Bradley Roby to fill in opposite Paulson Adebo as a starting cornerback. They’re also able to get some help at corner from the practice squad with veteran defensive back Chris Harris who has been called up for two games so far this year.

The Saints will have tough hill to climb in a game that could be a big step in staying in the thick of the NFC South race. The five missing starters will be in addition to the nine players currently recovering on injured reserve. If New Orleans can keep the division in reach until it starts getting big contributors back on the field, the Saints could have a path back to the playoffs after missing out last year.

Mike Evans Issued One-Game Suspension; Bucs WR Will Appeal

September 20th, 2022 at 2:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 20: Evans is appealing the suspension, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The appeal will be heard Tuesday. Evans’ 2017 appeal did not lead to an overturned suspension. Considering the similarities between the 2017 incident that prompted a ban and Sunday’s Lattimore shove, Evans seeing this suspension vacated would surprise.

SEPTEMBER 19: The fallout from yesterday’s brawl in the Buccaneers-Saints game has begun. Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans has been given a one-game suspension for his role in the altercation, the NFL announced on Monday.

The ban was handed down by VP of football operations Jon Runyan; in a letter to Evans, he wrote in part, “Your aggressive conduct could have caused serious injury to your opponent and clearly does not reflect the high standards of sportsmanship expected of a professional.”

This marks the second time that the 29-year-old has been suspended. He was also banned for one game in 2017 after a similar incident involving he and Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, a pair which have a long history with one another within the broader Buccaneers-Saints rivalry. Both Lattimore and Evans were ejected from yesterday’s game, but the latter expressed confidence that he would not be facing supplemental discipline.

“That was terrible – [in] 2017 I didn’t even get ejected and that was really a cheap shot,” Evans said after the game, via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell and Jenna Laine. “This wasn’t. [Lattimore] punched my teammate in the face and I just pushed him to the ground.”

Evans has the option of appealing the suspension, and is expected to do so, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). If the ban is upheld, he will lose just over $62K in salary, a by-product of his 2022 base salary being reduced to the league minimum. That would also leave the Buccaneers even more shorthanded at the position, though, as fellow starters Chris Godwin and Julio Jones were sidelined due to injuries yesterday.

No other suspensions have been levied, but fines affecting players on both teams are likely to be announced later this week, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). While the league continues to sort through the aftermath of yesterday’s events, attention will turn to Evans’ status as the Buccaneers prepare to play the Packers.

South Notes: Saints, Darnold, Colts

September 14th, 2022 at 1:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Links between Patrick Mahomes and other teams have emerged in the past. The Cardinals were preparing to draft the eventual Chiefs megastar five years ago. Sean Payton also confirmed the rumored story of his old team’s plans with the then-Texas Tech prospect. During his latest FOX appearance (h/t NFL.com’s Peter Schrager), the former Saints coach said he was prepared to draft Mahomes at No. 11 in 2017. While Payton confirmed he discussed the selection with Drew Brees and informed the future Hall of Famer a Mahomes pick would not impact his starter status, the Saints also viewed Marshon Lattimore as a top-four player in the 2017 class.

Payton said in 2020 the team did not have a clear choice between Lattimore and Mahomes, though then-Kansas City GM John Dorsey made New Orleans’ decision easier with the trade-up for the quarterback. Payton said this week Mahomes was “the best quarterback I’d ever seen on college tape.” The Saints had worked out Mahomes in Lubbock that year. Hindsight would suggest the Saints needed to be ready to climb into the top 10 for such a talent, but Mahomes was not viewed as a surefire top-10 pick that year. GM Mickey Loomis also said Lattimore falling impacted the team’s decision not to trade up for Mahomes. Both Mahomes and Lattimore are now signed to long-term contracts, though the former’s prime should be expected to last longer.

Here is the latest from the NFC South:

The NFL’s longest-tenured general manager, excluding those with owner-GM or coach-GM roles, Loomis has seen fellow Saints cornerstones Payton and Brees depart in the past two offseasons. But the 21st-year Saints front office boss is not planning to join them in leaving anytime soon, via Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. When the acclaimed salary cap guru does walk away, Jeff Ireland looms as a logical successor. The former Dolphins GM is well-regarded by Loomis and others in the organization, Duncan adds. Ireland, 52, was the Dolphins’ GM from 2008-13. Currently the Saints’ assistant GM, Ireland has been with the team since 2015. The Bears interviewed Ireland for their GM post this offseason, while the Lions and Panthers met with him in 2021. It will be interesting to see if Ireland sticks around to potentially succeed Loomis or land a GM gig elsewhere before the New Orleans GM exits.
After a strained 2021 between Michael Thomas and the Saints, first-year HC Dennis Allen made connecting with the wide receiver one of his first acts upon being promoted. Allen flew to Los Angeles to have dinner with Thomas early this offseason, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com notes. Despite Thomas’ injury-plagued 2020s and the Saints’ frustration with their top wideout regarding his 2021 surgery timetable — a process that led to the All-Pro missing a full season — the team vowed not to trade him early this offseason. Thomas, 29, has returned healthy and caught two touchdown passes in the Saints’ Week 1 comeback win over the Falcons.
Potentially the Colts‘ left tackle of the future, Bernhard Raimann backed up Matt Pryor in Week 1. But the Colts used the third-round rookie in a rotation with Pryor. After Raimann played 12 of the five-period game’s 90 left tackle snaps, Frank Reich said (via the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson) he plans to continue rotating his backup in going forward. Left tackle represented the only position at which the Colts deployed a rotation, beginning a path to Raimann seizing this job full-time. The Colts re-signed Pryor on a one-year, $5.55MM deal this offseason, and Erickson offers the 2021 Colts swingman — who has never been a full-time left tackle — could be an option at right guard, should Raimann take over the blindside.
Sam Darnold is making progress toward a return. The Panthers backup has shed his walking boot, per The Athletic’s Joe Person (on Twitter). On IR due to a high ankle sprain, Darnold will miss at least the season’s first four weeks.

Saints Restructure CB Marshon Lattimore’s Contract

March 12th, 2022 at 8:42am CST by Ben Levine

The Saints entered the offseason with one of the worst cap situations in the NFL, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the Saints opened up a significant chunk of cap space after restructuring cornerback Marshon Lattimore‘s contract.

Specifically, the team converted Lattimore’s base salary into a signing bonus, opening up a whopping $18.45MM in cap space. Per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football (on Twitter), the Saints are now about $5MM over the cap.

It’s another step forward for the cap-crunched Saints, who previously reworked the deals of defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Tanoh Kpassagnon. The team also restructured Alvin Kamara‘s deal yesterday, opening up another $8MM in space. Once the team manages to get the under the cap, they’ll have some interesting questions to answer, including a resolution on a potential long-term deal for standout safety Marcus Williams.

It hasn’t even been a year since Lattimore signed a lucrative five-year, $97.6MM extension with New Orleans. He earned another Pro Bowl nod (his fourth) in 2021 after finishing with 68 tackles, 19 passes defended, and three interceptions in 16 starts.

Saints Rework Marshon Lattimore’s Deal

December 28th, 2021 at 10:43am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have converted Marshon Lattimore’s $500K Likely To Be Earned (LTBE) All-Pro incentive into a roster bonus for 2022 (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). The move provides the Saints with an additional $500K in cap room for the current year while guaranteeing Lattimore’s bonus, whether or not he earns All-Pro honors.

Lattimore, 25, was named to the Pro Bowl just last week, his fourth nod in five years. Given his quality work, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him capture All-Pro honors for the first time in his career this year. Through 14 games, Lattimore has 62 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery while allowing a stingy 54.8% completion rate.

Historically, Pro Football Focus hasn’t always been high on Lattimore. In 2020, PFF’s metrics give him a 59.1 overall grade, good for just 70th out of 121 qualified players. This year, it’s a different story. The Ohio State product currently ranks 15th in the league with a solid 75.9 mark.

Yesterday’s ugly loss to the Dolphins dropped the Saints to 7-8, but they could still manage a Wild Card spot with wins over the Panthers and Falcons.

Saints CB Marshon Lattimore Pleads Guilty To Misdemeanor

November 28th, 2021 at 12:58pm CST by Rory Parks

Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore has cleared up the legal matter that was hanging over his head. Lattimore, who was arrested in March and charged with possessing a loaded handgun that was believed to be stolen (a fourth-degree felony), recently pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to promptly inform officers that he was carrying a concealed handgun, as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com writes. The felony count was dropped as part of the plea deal.

Triplett points out that Lattimore has a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The 25-year-old DB was a passenger in a car that was pulled over for multiple traffic violations, and he did not tell the officers that he had the gun until they asked. Lattimore’s attorney, Marcus Sidoti, said his client was unaware that the gun was stolen.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy says the matter is still being reviewed by the league office. But now that the criminal case has been resolved, one would think that a decision as to whether Lattimore will face any sort of punishment under the NFL’s personal conduct policy will come fairly quickly.

The Saints were clearly not too concerned about this incident, as they handed Lattimore a record-setting contract extension in September. Pro Football Focus has not been particularly high on the Ohio State product since his rookie campaign, and that trend has continued this year. PFF’s metrics give him a 63.6 overall grade, good for 54th out of 118 qualified players. Still, Lattimore is viewed in a different light by New Orleans brass, and as the club’s CB1, he is often matched up against an opponent’s top receiver.

He chipped a bone in his thumb in the Saints’ Week 1 win over the Packers, missed Week 2 as a result, and played a few games with a cast. On the season, the three-time Pro Bowler has 42 tackles, one interception, and 11 passes defensed.

Lattimore was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation and was required to pay a $1K fine.

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