Another week, another crap load of bad news unravels for the Saints. The Saints can’t catch a break and just when the hits seem to stop coming, they continue. The Saints have faced adversity all season, and now they face even more in their final stretch and push to make a playoff run.
Deonte Harris Suspended, who fills in?
The biggest news of the day for the Saints is that wide receiver Deonte Harris will be suspended for 3 games. Harris has been the Saints best wide receiver and best offensive weapon outside of Alvin Kamara and now with this suspension the Saints will have to once again find ways around it to win games and find something offensively. With the suspension, the Saints will have to find a replacement at kick/punt returner and someone will have to step up at receiver, a position that has been one of the worst in the league.
The Saints do have some available options for the next few games to fill in for Harris’ absence. The Saints have Marquez Callaway currently on roster who filled in for Harris last season in the return game, but with Callaway being one of the offensive starters it’s unlikely. Ty Montgomery is another possible option as he’s already on the roster, but with Harris suspended the Saints will need to bring a guy onto the roster at receiver.
The Saints have three options I believe they’ll go with, two of them are on the practice squad. Their first option I would believe is Malcolm Perry. Perry was signed to their practice squad a few days prior to the Bills game and is capable of playing wide receiver and running back with some capability to return kicks. He did some returns in college and could fit that role.
The other option would be Easop Winston, he did some returns in the preseason and training camp and could fill in there along with some receiver reps. He’s comfortable with the system and is in the building weekly. A possibility for the short handed Saints.
The final option is Jalen McCleskey who has been someone who I’ve wanted on the roster for a bit. He had a strong training camp until suffering a hamstring injury, and also had some reps in the return game. His strong camp included both as a receiver and a returner, so we could see him come back around.
The suspension of Harris does hurt the team and is a huge blow, but there is a positive to it. Harris will serve his suspension this season as opposed to the start of next season. Obviously this team needs him badly now, but it’s better to have him next season and have him miss some time now as this season isn’t going the way some may have hoped. He will be able to return week 17 of this season.
Cam Jordan goes to COVID/Reserve list
Along with the Deonte Harris suspension, defensive end Cameron Jordan was placed on the COVID/Reserve list. The Saints become even more short handed on the defensive line after losing Marcus Davenport, Payton Turner (who is eligible to come back anytime now), Tanoh Kpassagnon (who will miss 3 weeks on injured reserve with an ankle injury), and Kaden Elliss. However, Elliss and Davenport could potentially return this week for the Jets game.
Cam Jordan has never missed a game since being drafted in 2011, and now his iron man streak is at risk. Jordan is vaccinated and got his positive Covid test Monday morning, however with two negative Covid tests this week, Jordan can return and play since he is vaccinated. There is a slim chance that Jordan could play, but it’s not looking so good.
He’s currently only asymptomatic but did test positive for Covid, it wasn’t a close contact. Also something to keep an eye on is if Cam Jordan was in close contact with anyone and how the team will respond.
With Jordan out that leaves Carl Granderson and Jalyn Holmes as the current starting edge rushers. Now that’s assuming Davenport (shoulder) and Elliss (hamstring) will miss this Sunday’s game, but they could return this week. David Onyemata could also be moved over to edge rusher as he took some reps there in recent weeks and some over training camp. Gonna have to see how the situation plays out throughout the week.
Malcolm Roach designated to return
Malcolm Roach was placed on injured reserve a little over two weeks ago with a knee injury and has been set to practice this week. The Saints now have a 21 day window to activate him to the roster and he’ll be eligible to play, as of now he’s only eligible to practice. This Saturday is when we could see Roach be activated, but it will depend on how comfortable he is throughout the week at practice.
Roach returning will definitely be a huge win for the Saints, giving them more depth at the defensive line which has been so thin within the last few weeks. His availability allows the Saints to move some guys around to edge or interior to make the best possible defensive line with the guys available.
Players worked out
The Saints worked out three offensive lineman on Monday with the current offensive line being short handed. We could potentially see Ryan Ramczyk and Terron Armstead back this week as they were questionable last week, but their game status is currently a day to day basis.
The three guys that worked out Monday for the Saints were guard James Carpenter, tackle Jerald Hawkins, and tackle Andre Smith.
This could be for depth reasons, this could’ve also been for reasons we’re unsure of right now, like are the injuries of Ramczyk and Armstead worse than originally thought? Just something to keep an eye on as the week progresses.
If any more news is released we’ll be here to cover it.
Written By Kadin Janisch
If you need to contact me email me at whodattnation@gmail.com and I’ll try to get back to you.
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