NEW ORLEANS, LA - The New Orleans Saints set their Season 33 53 with a young QB room, a six-deep receiver group, and a veteran-led defense, then rounded out the practice squad with trench help and perimeter depth ahead of Week 1.
The big picture
New Orleans emphasized roster flexibility: two rookie QBs plus Jake Haener, extra length at corner, and a deep interior defensive line. Waiver claims shored up WR and OL, while the practice squad was built to supply quick call-ups at quarterback, tackle, and the secondary.
Initial 53 (by position)
QB (3): Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, Jake Haener
RB (4): Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Devin Neal, Velus Jones Jr.
WR (6): Chris Olave, Brandin Cooks, Rashid Shaheed, Trey Palmer, Devaughn Vele, Mason Tipton
TE (2): Juwan Johnson, Moliki Matavao
OL (10): Taliese Fuaga, Trevor Penning, Dillon Radunz, Asim Richards, Xavier Truss, Kelvin Banks Jr., Torricelli Simpkins III, Erik McCoy, Luke Fortner, Cesar Ruiz
DL (10): Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson, Chase Young, Jonathan Bullard, Chris Rumph II, Bryan Bresee, Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd, Khristian Boyd, Vernon Broughton
LB (5): Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Jaylan Ford, Danny Stutsman, Isaiah Stalbird
DB (10): Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alontae Taylor, Isaac Yiadom, Rejzohn Wright, Quincy Riley, Julian Blackmon, Justin Reid, Jordan Howden, Ugo Amadi, Jonas Sanker
Specialists (3): Blake Grupe (K), Kai Kroeger (P), Zach Wood (LS)
Who was cut (and reserve lists)
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Contract terminations (vets): Terrell Burgess (S), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB), Shane Lemieux (OL), Dante Pettis (WR), Jonah Williams (DE)
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Waived: Kevin Austin Jr. (WR), Dalys Beanum (CB), Elliot/Elliott Davison (S), Fadil Diggs (DE), Isaiah Foskey (DE), Jake Haener (QB), D'Marco Jackson (LB), Easton Kilty (T), Rico Payton (CB - waived/injured), Jayden Peevy (DT), Jayden Price (CB), Nephi Sewell (LB), Charlie Smyth (K), Treyton Welch (TE), Marcus Yarns (RB)
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Reserve/PUP: Taysom Hill (TE), Foster Moreau (TE)
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Injured reserve (out): Bub Means (WR), John Ridgeway III (DT), Barry Wesley (T), Landon Young (T); others noted out include Will Clapp (C) and Nick Saldiveri (OL)
Practice squad (current)
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Kevin Austin Jr. (WR), Dalys Beanum (CB), Terrell Burgess (S), Elliot/Elliott Davison (S), Hunter Dekkers (QB), Fadil Diggs (DE), Easton Kilty (T), Jayden Price (CB), Nephi Sewell (LB), Charlie Smyth (K), Jack Stoll (TE), Treyton Welch (TE), Jonah Williams (DE), Cedrick Wilson Jr. (WR), Eku Leota (LB), Tommy Mellott (WR)
What it means
New Orleans is built to toggle personnel and play complementary football. On offense, keeping Rattler-Shough-Haener gives Kellen Moore a full menu of play-action, boot, and RPO looks while Olave/Cooks/Shaheed provide vertical stress and Kamara/Miller handle the ground game. The line got bigger and more versatile with Fuaga, Penning, Truss, Banks and interior anchors McCoy/Fortner/Ruiz, which should stabilize protections and short-yardage.
Defensively, the Saints can roll waves: Jordan/Granderson/Young outside with Bresee/Godchaux/Shepherd inside, plus added length at CB (McKinstry, Taylor, Wright). That depth supports more press-match and simulated pressure looks without sacrificing run fits. The practice squad is targeted-QB insurance (Dekkers), tackle depth (Kilty), perimeter help (Wilson Jr., Austin Jr.)-so weekly elevations can tailor special teams and sub-packages while injuries clear.
