It wouldn't be a Saints training camp without a surprise retirement, and that's what the team got after four days of training camp practice.
25-year-old defensive end Jabari Zuniga has been added to the reserve/retired list after participating in the first three camp practices. He was not in attendance on Saturday.
Zuniga was a third-round pick by the Jets out of Florida in 2020, but but dealt with injuries and was cut and placed on the practice squad in Year 2. He appeared in 11 games for New York, recording a forced fumble and 10 tackles. Zuniga was waived in 2022 before landing with the Seahawks early in the season, then signed to the Saints practice squad in October. Zuniga appeared in just one game for the Saints, a Week 10 win over the Rams when he recorded a pair of tackles.
The mid-camp retirement isn't uncommon for camp, with a handful of other player hanging it up -- including RB Sony Michel -- early in the offseason. In the past few seasons the Saints have seen players including Patrick Robinson and Kiko Alonso opt for retirement in similar circumstances.
Related
The Saints also signed a familiar name in 27-year-old guard Koda Martin, another player who entered the NFL in 2020 but went undrafted before signing with the L.A. Chargers. Martin was hurt early in the offseason and cut, then latched on with the Arizona Cardinals where he spent the past three seasons. Martin appeared in just two games for the Cardinals before signing in New Orleans earlier this offseason and participating in multiple offseason programs.
The signing likely comes in response to a season-ending injury to veteran guard Trai Turner, with a torn quad suffered in the Saints' third practice expected to keep him out for the season. Turner, a New Orleans native and LSU alum, has yet to be placed on any reserve list, leaving the current roster at the 90-man limit after the Martin signing.
Related
