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Foster Moreau Foster Moreau Questionable against Bucs
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 2:46 PM
Moreau (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Moreau was a limited participant in practice Thursday and Friday after Wednesday's DNP. He's looking to return after a one-game absence. If the tight end suits up, it remains to be seen who will be throwing him the ball, as Derek Carr (shoulder) is also questionable. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr Questionable after practicing
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 2:20 PM
Carr (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, with coach Dennis Allen saying he wants to see how Carr feels Saturday after returning to practice Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Carr didn't return to last week's loss in Green Bay after his early exit and was deemed "week-to-week" by Allen a day later, but it now seems the quarterback may not miss any more action. Carr returned to practice Friday afternoon, with multiple beat reporters saying he looked sharp and was throwing downfield during the portion open to media. While the Saints may still end up starting Jameis Winston this weekend, Allen said there isn't much concern about Carr aggravating his AC joint sprain and then dealing with the injury long term. In other words, the decision will simply be a matter of which QB gives the team the best chance to win this Sunday. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr Returns to practice, looks sharp
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 1:59 PM
Carr (shoulder) returned to practice Friday and looked sharp throwing passes, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
Analysis: Carr seems to be recovering quickly from an AC joint sprain despite early week reports suggesting he'd likely miss a game or two. Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football agrees with Underhill that Carr looked good at practice Friday and seems to have a shot at starting Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. |
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Foster Moreau Foster Moreau Ramps up activity
Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 3:56 PM
Moreau (ankle ) was a limited participant during practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Moreau is moving in the right direction after logging a DNP on Wednesday. The fifth-year pro missed the Saints' Week 3 loss to the Packers but appears to still have a chance to suit up in Week 4 against Tampa Bay. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr Sitting out practice again
Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 2:38 PM
Carr (shoulder) is a spectator for Thursday's practice, Ross Jackson of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Though the Saints haven't officially ruled Carr out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, he's being viewed as week-to-week and seems likely to miss at least one contest while he continues to recover from an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, which he sustained in the team's Week 3 loss to the Packers. With Carr sitting out a second practice in a row, Jameis Winston will direct the Saints' first-team offense once again and looks poised to pick up the start versus Tampa Bay this weekend. |
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Foster Moreau Foster Moreau Remains sidelined
Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 4:23 PM
Moreau (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Moreau closed out last week with a limited practice before being ruled out for the team's Week 3 loss to the Packers, so this seems like a potential step in the wrong direction. However, he'll try to return to the field Thursday as he works to be prepared to play Sunday against the Buccaneers. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr Not ready to practice
Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 2:50 PM
Carr (shoulder) didn't practice Thursday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: As expected, two days after Saints coach Dennis Allen said his starting quarterback is week-to-week with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder. Carr wasn't able to rejoin Sunday's 18-17 loss to the Packers after his early exit, leaving Jameis Winston under center for a second-half collapse in which the Saints produced four punts and one missed field goal on their final five drives. Winston nonetheless profiles as one of the better backups in the league, if not the best, and he's on track to make at least one start while Carr recovers from his shoulder injury. |
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Rashid Shaheed Rashid Shaheed Notches 76-yard punt return TD
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 10:45 PM
Shaheed failed to catch either of his two targets for zero yards during Sunday's 18-17 defeat versus the Packers. He also logged a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown along with one rushing attempt for no gain.
Analysis: Shaheed made his first significant special-teams impact of the 2023 campaign, darting through a crowd of tacklers before breaking away for a 76-yard punt-return touchdown in the second quarter. The 6-foot speedster fair caught the three other punts he fielded while tallying a season-low 32 yards on kickoff returns. This still made up for his inability to haul in either of his targets from starting quarterback Derek Carr and Jameis Winston, as the latter stepped in under center after the former went out with a right shoulder injury in the third quarter. This marked the first time Shaheed was held without a catch since Week 9 of last season, and he still played nearly as many offensive snaps (44) as fellow starting wideouts Chris Olave (49) and Michael Thomas (46). However, the latter two receivers combined for 14 catches on 20 targets, as these two should still be considered New Orleans' clear-cut top two receivers. Shaheed's offensive productivity figures to recover Week 4 against Tampa Bay, though he may have to operate without Carr, who was deemed week-to-week with a sprained AC joint by coach Dennis Allen. |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Back from suspension
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 4:27 PM
Kamara was officially reinstated from his suspension Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: With Kamara having completed his three-game suspension to start the season, the running back now is on track to join the Saints backfield Sunday against the Buccaneers. With Jamaal Williams (hamstring) on IR and set to miss at least three more games, Kamara figures to step into a key role immediately in his looming return, with fellow RBs Tony Jones and Kendre Miller also candidates to log touches Week 4. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr Viewed as week-to-week
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 1:36 PM
Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Monday that Carr (shoulder) has a sprained AC joint and is considered week-to-week.
Analysis: Allen noted that the team will evaluate Carr's progress throughout the week before making a determination on his availability for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. Jameis Winston, who replaced Carr in the 18-17 Week 3 loss to Green Bay, would continue to start under center if Carr misses additional time. Wednesday's practice report will offer the first official determination of Carr's availability moving forward. |
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Jimmy Graham Jimmy Graham Catches first TD of 2023
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 7:44 PM
Graham caught his only target for eight yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 18-17 defeat to the Packers.
Analysis: Graham scored a vintage red-zone touchdown with his first target of the 2023 campaign, going up for an eight-yard reception in the end zone during the first quarter. The 36-year-old fulfilled a larger role with usual TE2 Foster Moreau (ankle) inactive Week 3. However, Graham still logged three fewer targets than starting tight end Juwan Johnson, and he also saw as many targets as hybrid tight end/quarterback Taysom Hill. Graham's touchdown is likely indicative of how New Orleans would like to use him this season, though he's still unlikely to see significant or consistent playing time unless Moreau remains sidelined moving forward. |
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Juwan Johnson Juwan Johnson Held in check by Green Bay
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 7:43 PM
Johnson hauled in two of four targets for 12 yards during Sunday's 18-17 defeat to the Packers.
Analysis: Johnson logged five or fewer targets for the third game in a row despite the absence of Foster Moreau (ankle). Still, the starting tight end finished with fewer targets than only wideouts Chris Olave (11) and Michael Thomas (nine). He also lost out on the Saints' only red-zone scoring opportunity, as backup tight end Jimmy Graham instead caught an eight-yard touchdown pass on his lone target of the game in the first quarter. Johnson did log three targets after backup quarterback Jameis Winston stepped in for starter Derek Carr, who was forced out in the third quarter and did not return after suffering what's believed to be a right AC sprain, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Johnson's role and usage as TE1 don't figure to fluctuate much if Carr ends up missing time moving forward with this injury. |
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Taysom Hill Taysom Hill Little impact in loss
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 7:25 PM
Hill rushed four times for 12 yards and caught his lone target for nine yards during Sunday's 18-17 defeat versus the Packers.
Analysis: Hill's production regressed to the mean after his standout nine-carry, 75-yard performance last week against Carolina. The do-it-all offensive player logged only four carries with the Saints' top two running backs Alvin Kamara (suspension) and Jamaal Williams (hamstring) both sidelined Week 3. Hill saw slightly more snaps lined up in the shotgun after starting quarterback Derek Carr was forced out with a right shoulder injury in the third quarter; however, aside from a 14-yard carry that was wiped off the board due to an offensive holding penalty, the hybrid tight end/quarterback didn't make a significant impact while at quarterback for New Orleans. Instead, backup signal-caller Jameis Winston handled the team's passing duties for the remainder of the contest. There's now a chance that Carr will miss some time with what's believed to be an AC sprain, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. This should leave Winston to step in as the starting quarterback while Hill likely continues to fill a jack-of-all-trades role on offense. |
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Tony Jones Tony Jones Rotates carries with Miller
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 6:19 PM
Jones tallied eight carries for 31 yards and caught all four targets for 21 yards during Sunday's 18-17 defeat versus Green Bay.
Analysis: Jones split carries with rookie running back Kendre Miller (nine) during Alvin Kamara's final week of a three-game suspension. As a result, the 25-year-old made his biggest offensive impact for the Saints since his sophomore campaign in 2021. Jones was still limited to just 3.9 yards per carry, and he did not record a rush longer than seven yards. However, he did record three more targets than Miller, as the veteran appears to be the preferred back on third downs. Jamaal Williams (hamstring), who served as New Orleans' starting running back for the first two games of the season, was placed on injured reserve Saturday and will now be sidelined until at least Week 7. In the meantime, Jones seems set to serve the Saints' third-string running back behind Kamara and Miller. |
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Kendre Miller Kendre Miller Logs nine carries in debut
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 6:17 PM
Miller tallied nine carries for 34 yards and gathered in his only target for zero yards during Sunday's 18-17 defeat versus Green Bay.
Analysis: Miller was the second running back on the field for New Orleans during his NFL debut Sunday. After veteran Tony Jones logged the first rushing attempt on the opening drive, the third-round rookie logged three carries on the Saints' second offensive series; however, as was the case for most of the game, he never managed to make any significant impact. Miller wound up getting just two carries in the second half while Jones saw four rushing attempts. The pair totaled just 65 yards on 17 combined carries while swiss-army-knife Taysom Hill logged four carries of his own. With Alvin Kamara set to return from suspension Week 4 and Jamaal Williams (hamstring) still on IR until at least Week 7, Miller should slot in as New Orleans' RB2 for the next three games. |
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Michael Thomas Michael Thomas Logs six catches in second half
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 6:17 PM
Thomas gathered in six of nine targets for 50 yards during Sunday's 18-17 loss against the Packers.
Analysis: After being targeted twice during the first half, Thomas caught his final six targets from backup quarterback Jameis Winston, who had to step in during the third quarter for injured starter Derek Carr (shoulder). All six of the veteran wideout's receptions came during the fourth quarter as the Saints tried to defend the 17-0 lead they carried over from the first half. Thomas was a consistent short-to-intermediate target for Winston while second-year wideout Chris Olave helped stretch the field vertically. Olave finished as New Orleans' leading receiver in terms of yards (104) and targets (11), though he was targeted one fewer time than Thomas in the second half. Carr is believed to be dealing with an AC sprain in his right shoulder, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, which shouldn't be season-ending but could cause him to miss time moving forward. Should Winston step in as QB1 over the next few weeks, Thomas could stand to benefit while seeing more targets as a short-yardage security blanket behind Olave. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr Injury likely isn't season-ending
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 5:33 PM
Carr (shoulder) is believed to have avoided a severe injury following his early exit from Sunday's 18-17 loss at Green Bay, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. There's a chance Carr misses time with what is believed to be an AC sprain, per Rapoport, but it doesn't seem to be a season-ending concern.
Analysis: After he was taken down by Packers pass rusher Rashan Gary in the third quarter, Carr eventually was ruled out with what was called a shoulder issue. Carr later underwent additional testing at a Green Bay-area hospital to check for internal injuries. Per Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com, Carr was able to join his teammates on the flight back to New Orleans, but the Saints now will take a wait-and-see approach to determine if he'll be sidelined beyond Sunday. If Carr needs to sit out, Jameis Winston will handle quarterback duties for the team, with Taysom Hill also on hand to take the occasional snap. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Goes over 100 yards in loss
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 4:45 PM
Olave notched eight receptions (on 11 targets) for 104 yards during Sunday's 18-17 loss against the Packers.
Analysis: Olave was the most dynamic offensive player for either team during Sunday's loss. The second-year wideout hauled in four of his five targets in the first half, though he let a would-be seven-yard touchdown pass slide through his arms near the end of the first half. He also caught all but one of his six targets from quarterback Derek Carr, who was forced out with a right shoulder injury sustained on a sack during the third quarter. The veteran underwent X-rays on his right shoulder and was taken to a local area hospital for further evaluation. In his stead, backup quarterback Jameis Winston struggled to spur the Saints' offense during the second half, but he still completed two of three targets to Olave for 32 yards on the team's final offensive series. Olave finished with two more receptions than Michael Thomas, with the duo targeted on 20 of the 34 total passing attempts put up by Carr and Winston. Olave should remain the primary receiver for New Orleans moving forward, though his production could take a hit if Carr misses time. |
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Jameis Winston Jameis Winston Relieves injured starter in loss
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 4:43 PM
Winston completed 10 of 16 passes for 101 yards during Sunday's 18-17 defeat to the Packers.
Analysis: Winston took over under center after Derek Carr sustained a right shoulder injury on a sack in the third quarter. With their starting quarterback forced out for the remainder of the game, the Saints turned to Winston to protect their 17-0 lead with just over a quarter-and-a-half remaining. Winston didn't manage to pass his team's own 40-yard line on his first three drives of the second half; however, the 29-year-old completed four of six passes for 45 yards to set the Saints up for a game-winning field goal on their final offensive series before kicker Blake Grupe missed wide right on his 46-yard attempt. Winston started 10 games over his first three seasons with the Saints, and his experience in this offense should help keep the unit afloat if Carr, who underwent X-rays before being taken to a local area hospital for further evaluation, is forced to miss any time moving forward. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr Getting examined at hospital
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 3:10 PM
Carr, who exited Sunday's game against the Packers due to a right shoulder injury, is set to undergo additional testing at a Green Bay-area hospital, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Carr completed 13 of 18 pass attempts for 103 yards and a touchdown before exiting in the third quarter shortly after being sacked by the Packers' Rashan Gary. The veteran quarterback already underwent X-rays at the stadium, but he'll now get a more thorough evaluation at the hospital as the Saints look to examine him for internal injuries. Carr's status for the Saints' Week 4 contest against the Buccaneers may not be established for a few more days, but Jameis Winston would likely be in line for the start if Carr is unable to play next weekend. |
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