Well, that’s odd. The New Orleans Saints released veteran long snapper John Denney and free agent kicker Blair Walsh to their practice just one day after both players were signed to the practice squad. Saints coach Sean Payton explained the additions as emergency contingencies should their starters be unavailable for the playoffs, which is possible given the unpredictability of COVID-19. So what gives?
There are a couple of possible reasons for the quick turnaround. Bringing the players into the facility often requires them to be tested for the coronavirus along with everyone else each day, keeping their records up to date and easing the time limit for their activation should an absence pop up at the last minute. It’s likely that both Walsh and Denney will be reported to visit the team facility again in the days leading up New Orleans’ Divisional Round game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so that their testing history remains accurate.
And as for the quick sign-and-release: this may have been done to guarantee both players receive a pay check for the week as members of the practice squad, even if they were technically only on the roster for a day. Both of them are in town practicing away from their teammates in quarantine, so it makes sense to find a way to pay them for their time (within the framework of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, of course).
So keep an eye out for more transactions involving these two. Other changes to the practice squad reported on the daily transactions wire for Wednesday included the release of wide receiver Jake Lampman, while three players were re-signed: defensive tackle Anthony Zettel, and wide receivers Austin Carr and Jake Kumerow.
