Takeaways from New Orleans Saints' 53-man roster, practice squad
The dust is settling on the New Orleans Saints' 53-man roster and practice squad. Here are our takeaways on every position group.
With various roster cuts, waiver claims, and practice squad signings, the New Orleans Saints have finalized their 53-man roster and practice squad. Here are the key takeaways for each position group:
Quarterbacks: Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Zach Wilson are the top three. Coach Kellen Moore has Rattler and Wilson as the quarterback backups, but Wilson has limited opportunities. Wilson remains the emergency QB3 if he remains on the team.
Running backs: Travis Etienne Jr., Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, and Audric Estime are the starters. Practice squad players Zamir White and CJ Donaldson could fill in if needed. Kamara's status is unclear due to an MCL strain.
Tight ends: Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, and Oscar Delp are the starters. Rookie Stone Smartt could be signed from the practice squad. Delp has dealt with a minor hamstring injury.
Wide receivers: Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, Bryce Lance, and Barion Brown are the starters. Practice squad players Trey Palmer and Jalen Moreno-Cropper could be added if necessary. Jordyn Tyson (injured) and Mason Tipton (designated to return) are injured reserve and designated to return, respectively.
Offensive line: Kelvin Banks Jr., Asim Richards, David Edwards, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Jeremiah Wright (rookie), and Taliese Fuaga form a solid front five. Alan Herron, Easton Kilty, and Alex Wollschlaeger will fill practice squad spots.
Special teams: Ryan Wright punts, Daniel Carlson kicks, and Zach Wood long snaps. Charlie Smyth is the practice squad kicker. Wright's debut had some hiccups, but consistency will be key.
Edge rushers: Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Cameron Jordan, Anfernee Jennings, and Tyree Wilson are the starters. Practice squad player Fadil Diggs could be called upon if needed.
Defensive line: Vernon Broughton, Colby Wooden, John Ridgeway III, Davon Godchaux, Christen Miller (rookie), and Nathan Shepherd form a strong defense with potential contributions from Jay Viar Suggs (rookie end) and Khristian Boyd (practice squad).
Overall, the Saints appear to have a strong roster with depth across most positions. However, some players are still dealing with injuries, and roster moves may still occur before the season starts on September 13.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
