Several hundred NFL players received bad news on Tuesday with teams filing roster cuts, but a good number of them are getting another chance to hang on with practice squads across the league. That includes the New Orleans Saints, who released six players and waived a dozen others — and who know turn their attention towards filling out the 16-man practice squad.
As we’ve discussed before, up to six of those spots can be filled by veteran players with more than two accrued seasons (defined as at least six games played in a single year). The other spots are filled by first- and second-year pros. And most of them will be players who were just let go on Tuesday, only to re-sign with New Orleans on Wednesday. But there may be some newcomers.
And the Saints will be busy processing various transactions for injuries and shuffling the depth chart, so the 53 players under contract Tuesday afternoon will be different come kickoff with the Atlanta Falcons in a week and a half. So we should anticipate some movement beyond practice squad additions. Here’s everything we know so far:
Saints claim former Bills guard Tanner Owen off of waivers
As reported on Wednesday’s waiver wire update, the Saints added rookie offensive lineman Tanner Owen. An undrafted rookie out of Northwest Missouri State (where he started 52 games at left tackle), Owen lined up at both guard spots for Buffalo. He brings some versatility.
DT Malcolm Roach designated to injured reserve
DT Malcolm Roach will be going on injured reserve, per source
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 31, 2022
As first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, Roach will miss at least the first four games while recovering from a late-summer injury. Up to eight players can return during the season after being sent to injured reserve. In the meantime, look for the Saints to bring in some veteran help at defensive tackle to tide them over.
QB Ian Book claimed off of waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles
Book could have re-signed with the Saints practice squad had he cleared waivers, but the Eagles submitted a waiver claim and he’ll now back up Jalen Hurts and Gardner Minshew. It’s a fresh start for him in Philadelphia, though Book will be joining his former Saints teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
LB Nephi Sewell signed to the Saints practice squad
Saints are signing LB Nephi Sewell to the practice squad, per source
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 31, 2022
As first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, Sewell returns as the team’s first practice squad pickup and should be a candidate to be activated on game days. He’s a big help on special teams and can line up at a couple of different linebacker spots.
CB DaMarcus Fields signed to the Saints practice squad
Saints are signing CB DaMarcus Fields to the practice squad, per source
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 31, 2022
As first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, Fields is another undrafted rookie returning to the practice squad. He showed some versatility in covering out wide and over the slot throughout the summer and led all defenders in snaps played in coverage. He’s got potential as a nice long-term project.
WR Rashid Shaheed signed to the Saints practice squad
Saints are signing WR Rashiid Shaheed to the practice squad, per source
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 31, 2022
As first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, Shaheed never got to show what he could do in the return game during the preseason. But the Saints guaranteed him a lot of money coming out of Weber State and this gives him more opportunities to make a difference.
WR Kirk Merritt signed to the Saints practice squad
Congrats @kirkmerritt33 signing with @Saints Practice Squad
— Mike McCartney (@MikeMcCartney7) August 31, 2022
As announced by his agent Mike McCartney at Vayner Sports, Merritt is returning to the Saints practice squad. He’s a versatile player who can catch the ball, run with it, and cover on special teams. It’s good to have him back in the fold.
OL Josh Andrews signed to the Saints practice squad
The New Orleans Saints just signed my client Josh Andrews to the practice squad. Veteran C/G will likely be back on an active roster soon.
— Brett Tessler (@TesslerSports) August 31, 2022
As announced by his agent Brett Tessler, Andrews is another veteran player returning to the practice squad. He’s an experienced center who also lined up at guard for New Orleans over the summer. Look for him to help back up Erik McCoy from the practice squad.
WR Dai'Jean Dixon signed to the practice squad
A source tells me that the #Saints are signing WR Dai'Jean Dixon, a Nicholls State alum and New Orleans native, to their practice squad.
— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) August 31, 2022
As first reported by our own Ross Jackson, Dixon is another undrafted rookie coming back to the practice squad. He’s the third receiver to re-sign with the Saints, along with Rashid Shaheed and Kirk Merritt. He brings good size and is another nice long-term developmental player.
C Nick Martin signed to the practice squad
Nick Martin is coming back to the Saints practice squad, per source
— John Hendrix (@JohnJHendrix) August 31, 2022
As first reported by SI.com’s John Hendrix, Martin is another veteran addition to the practice squad. He competed with Josh Andrews to back up Erik McCoy throughout training camp but the team is fortunate to hang onto both of them. That’s 4,700 career snaps played across 125 combined games between Andrews and Martin in the NFL.
