The New England Patriots released former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Cameron Meredith, who still hasn’t recovered from a complicated knee injury he suffered back in 2017 while playing for the Chicago Bears. The report of Meredith’s release came via Field Yates of ESPN, and was later listed on the official NFL transactions wire.
Meredith was signed by New Orleans last year, and initially looked impressive catching passes from Saints quarterback Drew Brees. But chronic swelling in his surgically-repaired knee required an arthroscopic procedure to correct, cutting his 2018 season short, and effects lingered further into 2019. The Saints released him early in training camp this summer and the Patriots were quick to add him to their then-thin receiving corps.
Unfortunately, time and a change in scenery haven’t done much to improve Meredith’s condition. If his knee continues to limit his availability moving forward it’s tough to see another team giving him a shot. He just turned 27 back in September; hopefully this isn’t something that will impact the rest of his life.
Last year, the Saints basically picked Meredith as a new addition (signing him to a two-year, $9.5 million contract) rather than opting to retain Willie Snead, who had a few years in their system before signing a two-year, $7 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Snead’s 2017 season had been one to forget after a DUI suspension and lower leg injury put him behind the curve to start off, and the Saints never worked him back into the offense. That’s despite him having averaged 62.6 yards per game in his first two years with the team.
In hindsight, the Saints should have been more patient with Snead, a proven commodity, than they were willing to be with Meredith, a largely unknown factor. But their evaluation at the time was solid; the Patriots proved the Saints’ medical staff weren’t the only ones thinking he could bounce back.
