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Dallin Holker Dallin Holker Serves as TE3 in 2024
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 6:03 AM
Holker appeared in 12 regular-season games for New Orleans in 2024, nabbing three of four targets for 21 yards.
Analysis: Holker did not play in the first four games of the season before appearing in 12 of the final 13 contests. The undrafted rookie out of Colorado State was buried on the depth chart behind veteran tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau (knee) for much of the season, but he got some more opportunities after Taysom Hill suffered a season-ending ACL tear Week 13. Holker recorded three catches over the final five games of the season, including two receptions during the 27-19 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 18. Johnson is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and the 34-year-old Hill has just one season remaining on his contract with the Saints. Holker could have a path to a more significant role if the Saints don't bring back Johnson and/or Hill for the 2025 campaign. |
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Mason Tipton Mason Tipton Fades in depleted WR corps
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 6:01 AM
Tipton tallied 14 receptions (on 26 targets) for 99 yards across 11 regular-season appearances for the Saints in 2024.
Analysis: Tipton saw action right away as a rookie and seemed to be growing into a larger role by the midway point of the year. The undrafted wideout peaked when he caught six of nine targets while playing 82 percent of snaps Week 7. But, his production quickly faded with only two catches over the next three games, and he was ruled a healthy scratch for six of the final seven contests. This was somewhat surprising, as top wideouts Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) were sidelined for the final nine and 11 games of the regular season, respectively. The Saints instead relied upon its tight ends and a patchwork group of journeymen wideouts, including Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kevin Austin, Cedrick Wilson and Dante Pettis. Tipton will likely compete for a reserve role heading into the 2025 season. |
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Cedrick Wilson Cedrick Wilson Quiet first season in New Orleans
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 6:00 AM
Wilson appeared in 15 regular-season games for the Saints in 2024, totaling 20 catches (on 27 targets) for 211 yards and one touchdown.
Analysis: Wilson saw consistent playing time as the third or fourth wideout for the Saints this season. The 29-year-old joined New Orleans on a two-year, $5.2 million contract in March after spending his previous two seasons in Miami. Wilson was expected to provide some veteran depth behind top wideouts Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee), but he never made much of an impact even though the duo missed the final nine and 11 games of the season, respectively. Wilson logged more than three receptions in just one game, and he ultimately finished with less than 25 catches for the third season in a row. He'll likely have to compete for a reserve role once again heading into the 2025 season. |
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Kevin Austin Kevin Austin Plays eight games in 2024
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 5:57 AM
Austin collected 11 of 22 targets for 151 yards across eight regular-season appearances for the Saints in 2024.
Analysis: Austin started the regular season on New Orleans' practice squad and didn't see the field until being called into action Week 10. He went on to play in the final eight games of the regular season, as the Saints' receiving corps was extremely depleted while wideouts Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) were sidelined for the final nine and 11 games of the season, respectively. Austin played at least half of the offensive snaps in all but one of his eight appearances, but he never logged more than three receptions in any of these contests. Instead, wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling and tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau (knee) all commanded more targets than Austin over this stretch. Austin is slated to become an exclusive rights free agent following the 2025 season. |
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Jake Haener Jake Haener Logs one subpar start in 2024
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 5:55 AM
Haener completed 18 of 39 passes for 226 yards with one touchdown and one interception during eight regular-season appearances for the Saints in 2024. He also recorded 11 rushing attempts for 22 yards.
Analysis: Haener failed to impress during any of his significant opportunities this season. The second-year quarterback came in for mop-up duty during back-to-back blowouts in Week 1 and Week 2, and he stepped in when QB1 Derek Carr suffered an oblique injury Week 5. But, the Saints started rookie Spencer Rattler when Carr missed the following three games. Haener didn't get his first chance to start until the Week 15 loss to the Commanders, in which he was benched after completing four of 10 passes for 39 yards and an interception in the first half. Haener never saw the field again for the rest of the season, as New Orleans started Rattler for the final three games. In two seasons, Haener has thrown just one touchdown and has passed for over 100 yards once. The Saints don't appear to have a surefire long-term plan at quarterback after back-to-back underwhelming seasons with the 33-year-old Carr. Given Haener's apparent lack of growth and production, it's unlikely he'll be anything more than a QB2, or possibly even QB3, for the Saints moving forward. |
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Xazavian Valladay Xazavian Valladay Inks deal with NOLA
Mon, Jan 6, 2025, 6:49 PM
The Saints signed Valladay to a reserve/future contract Monday.
Analysis: Valladay was cut from the Jets' practice squad mid-September, but he caught on with the Saints in early November and remained on the practice squad for the rest of the 2024 regular season. Valladay last saw NFL regular-season action in 2023 with the Jets, during which he played in Week 18 against the Patriots and played 12 snaps on special teams. The 26-year-old running back out of Arizona State is set to spend time with the Saints during OTAs and minicamp and will attempt to earn a roster spot during training camp next summer. |
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Foster Moreau Foster Moreau Surgery ahead
Mon, Jan 6, 2025, 12:55 PM
Moreau, who suffered a knee injury in Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers, will have to undergo surgery, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Moreau was carted off the field after sustaining a blow to his leg late in Sunday's matchup. It's still unclear what the injury he suffered is, or if he is in danger of missing any time next season. The 27-year-old still has one year left on his contract, although there is likely no guarantee he'll be in a Saints uniform next season. |
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Dante Pettis Dante Pettis Catches TD to cap off season
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 10:31 PM
Pettis had two receptions (on six targets) for 16 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Buccaneers.
Analysis: Pettis caught his first touchdown of the season when he hauled in a five-yard pass in the end zone from rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler in the second quarter. The 29-year-old signed with the Saints on Dec. 7 after the team underwent a rash of injuries at wide receiver. With starters Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) both on IR down the stretch of the season, Pettis helped augment the receiver room behind Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who led the team with 16 catches (on 34 targets) for 380 yards and four touchdowns over the final eight weeks. Meanwhile, Pettis totaled 12 catches (on 28 targets) for 120 yards and one touchdown over this stretch. Pettis will likely look to sign a reserve/future contract with the Saints heading into this offseason. |
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Jordan Mims Jordan Mims Logs five touches Week 18
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 10:06 PM
Mims notched two carries for 12 yards and reeled in all three targets for 13 yards during Sunday's 27-19 loss against Tampa Bay.
Analysis: Mims suited up for his 11th game this season after being ruled a healthy scratch ahead of last week's loss to the Raiders. The second-year running back served as RB3 behind veterans Jamaal Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who both logged eight carries while Alvin Kamara (groin) and Kendre Miller (concussion) were inactive. Mims never had much of a role other than seeing some sparse third-string reps throughout the year, totaling 20 carries for 70 yards and 12 catches (on 18 targets) for 71 yards. He also spent a few days on the Saints' practice squad in late October and early November. Should New Orleans re-sign him this offseason, Mims will likely compete for a spot on the fringe of the active roster heading into the 2025 campaign. |
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Foster Moreau Foster Moreau Injured in regular-season finale
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 9:55 PM
Moreau reeled in all four targets for 31 yards before sustaining a knee injury during Sunday's 27-19 defeat versus the Buccaneers.
Analysis: Moreau went down after sustainieng a blow to his leg and he was carted to the locker room late in the fourth quarter. Saints coach Darren Rizzi said postgame that the tight end suffered a knee injury, but he did not elaborate on the nature or severity of this issue, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com. Moreau suited up for all 17 games this season, finishing with 32 catches for 413 yards and five touchdowns. His numbers never jumped off the page this season, but he was a solid complement opposite tight end Juwan Johnson, who recorded a 50-548-3 season stat line. Moreau joined the Saints on a two-year, $12 million contract in March of 2023. With the team likely to undergo a reset this offseason, it's unclear if Moreau will be back in New Orleans for the 2025 campaign. |
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Juwan Johnson Juwan Johnson Logs six catches Week 18
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 9:25 PM
Johnson notched six receptions (on seven targets) for 80 yards during Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Buccaneers.
Analysis: Johnson recorded a season high in yards, and he logged a season-high six receptions for the second week in a row. He and fellow tight end Foster Moreau (knee) saw increased production over the final two weeks, as rookie Spencer Rattler started in place of injured quarterback Derek Carr (hand). New Orleans was also without starting running back Alvin Kamara (groin) and wideouts Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) for the final three weeks. Johnson finishes the 2024 campaign with 50 catches for 548 yards and three touchdowns over 17 games. These marks represent his new career highs for receptions and yards, as he just surpassed his numbers from 2022 when he played 16 regular-season games. Johnson signed a one-year, $5.2 million contract with the Saints last July, and it's unclear if the team will re-sign him once again this coming offseason. |
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Jamaal Williams Jamaal Williams Splits RB duties Week 18
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 8:58 PM
Williams notched eight rushes for 15 yards and caught his only target for seven yards during Sunday's 27-19 defeat to the Buccaneers.
Analysis: Williams logged at least eight carries for the first time since Week 2. The Saints had been eliminated from playoff contention multiple weeks ago and were without multiple key offensive starters Sunday, inlcuding running back Alvin Kamara (groin) as well as RB2 Kendre Miller (concussion). This left Williams to split carries with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who was elevated from the practice for Week 18, and these two combined for a paltry 41 rushing yards on 16 carries. This caps off what was easily the least prodcutive season of Williams' career, finishing with fewer than 100 carries and 300 rushing yards for the first time in eight seasons. The 29-year-old signed a three-year, $12 million contract with New Orleans in March of 2023, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the team move on him from ahead of the 2025 regular season. |
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Marquez Valdes-Scantling Marquez Valdes-Scantling Three catches to close out season
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 7:18 PM
Valdes-Scantling brought in three of eight targets for 33 yards in the Saints' 27-19 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Analysis: The veteran wideout led the Saints in targets and finished a distant second in receiving yards to tight end Juwan Johnson. Valdes-Scantling was a relatively productive mid-season addition for New Orleans that made good use of the opportunity created by multiple injuries in the pass-catching corps, posting a 16-380-4 line over his last six games while offering a downfield dimension that Chris Olave (concussion) typically provided. Valdes-Scantling will be an unrestricted free agent come the new league year in March, and it remains to be seen if New Orleans will be interested in keeping him aboard for 2025 and beyond. |
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Clyde Edwards-Helaire Clyde Edwards-Helaire Paces ground attack in loss
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 7:13 PM
Edwards-Helaire rushed eight times for 26 yards and brought in his only target for 14 yards in the Saints' 27-19 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Analysis: Edwards-Helaire served as a co-lead back alongside Jamaal Williams with both Alvin Kamara (groin) and Kendre Miller (concussion) sidelined, and he produced a team-high rushing yardage total. The veteran back will be an unrestricted free agent come the new league year, and Edwards-Helaire shouldn't have too much trouble garnering some interest on the open market given his status as a one-time first-round pick and the fact he's just 25 years old. |
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Spencer Rattler Spencer Rattler Solid numbers in finale
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 4:57 PM
Rattler completed 26 of 42 passes for 240 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and rushed once for 11 yards in the Saints' 27-19 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Analysis: The rookie quarterback got one final opportunity to gain experience and build his case for the future since Derek Carr (hand) remained sidelined, and Rattler made good use of the season-ending start. The South Carolina product was able to generate his second-highest yardage total of the season through the air and avoided an interception for the first time in his three consecutive season-ending starts. Rattler's solid performances over the last two games were particularly noteworthy considering the extremely shorthanded nature of New Orleans' offense, and it remains to be seen where he'll slot in on the organizational depth chart heading into training camp next summer. |
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Juwan Johnson Juwan Johnson Active for Week 18
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 10:44 AM
Johnson (knee) is active for Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Buccaneers.
Analysis: The veteran tight end practiced in limited fashion throughout the week, but Johnson, who's also played through a foot injury recently, will suit up for Sunday's regular-season finale. Johnson enters the divisional clash against the Buccaneers already sporting a new career high in receptions (44) and is coming off a game in which he produced a season-best 6-66 line on 10 targets against the Raiders in Week 17 while working with rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, who'll once again be under center Sunday in place of Derek Carr (hand). |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Inactive as expected Sunday
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 10:40 AM
Kamara (groin) is inactive for Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Buccaneers, the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Kamara was fully expected to miss his third consecutive game to close out the season Sunday, and that is now official. In the star running back's absence -- and that of Kendre Miller (concussion) -- versus Tampa Bay, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who gained 30 yards on seven touches in his Week 17 team debut and was promoted from the practice squad Saturday, could serve as the de facto lead back while Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims rotate in for complementary snaps. |
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Clyde Edwards-Helaire Clyde Edwards-Helaire Up from practice squad
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 3:44 PM
The Saints elevated Edwards-Helaire from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday in advance of Sunday's game in Tampa Bay.
Analysis: With Kendre Miller (concussion) out and Alvin Kamara (groin) doubtful for Week 18 action, Edwards-Helaire will be among the RB options for the Saints on Sunday along with Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims. In Week 17 against the Raiders, Kamara also was sidelined, Miller sustained his head injury, and Mims was a healthy scratch, which left Edwards-Helaire (26 of 60 snaps) and Williams (25 of 60) to split work. Having said that, Edwards turned his seven touches into 30 yards from scrimmage, while Williams managed 24 total yards on three touches. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Won't be activated off IR
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 2:49 PM
Olave (concussion), who was listed as questionable, has been downgraded to out and will not play in Week 18, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Despite Olave being a full participant in practice each of the past two weeks, it would have been a legitimate surprise if the wideout played in a meaningless Week 18 matchup for the Saints. The star wideout missed the team's final eight contests due to a second concussion of the season suffered back in Week 10. |
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Juwan Johnson Juwan Johnson Questionable for Week 18
Fri, Jan 3, 2025, 2:42 PM
Johnson (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Analysis: Johnson swapped out a lingering foot issue for a knee injury this week, which resulted in limited listings on all three practice reports. His status for Week 18 will be clarified about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, and if he's able to suit up, he likely will continue to split TE reps with Foster Moreau. Since Taysom Hill was lost for the season due to a torn ACL, Johnson has put up a 14-155-1 line on 20 targets over the last four games, while Moreau (11-159-2 line on 14 targets) has nearly matched his output. |
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