By his own admission, Chase Hansen was probably a "bit too hyped" as he got back into his first game action with the Saints on Saturday night. But maybe that was a good thing?
Wearing No. 40, Hansen sliced through the line on a blitz and took Texans running back Marlon Mack off his feet well in the backfield for a loss.
“It kind of felt new," Hansen said. "But also feel like I never left."
It wasn't really new for Hansen, who has spent all three of his NFL seasons with the Saints. But it was a bit of a quick turnaround this year after joining the team midway through camp. He spent the offseason getting healthy from hip surgery 6 months ago to correct a nagging issue. He'd been doing his rehab in his native Utah, and was the starting Will linebacker in the preseason opener just 8 days after inking his latest contract.
"[The last 2 years have been] inconsistent, kind of unsure, unstable for me. But I’ve always felt really confident when I’m healthy, and it’s more about consistency at this point," he said. "But it’s really been a rollercoaster … I’m just grateful for the Saints giving me more opportunities. It’s a business, and I know that, but it feels good to be back playing.”
The consistency was there for Hansen on Saturday, playing just 24 snaps on offense and 7 on special teams but tying for the team lead with six tackles, two of which came in the backfield. His shining moment, though, came after a play that saw him walking gingerly off the field and entering the blue medical tent.
Hansen got back into the action and tracked down Jeff Driskel pass that was tipped into the air by fellow linebacker Eric Wilson. Showing of his wheels, Hansen streaked down the sideline for a 44-yard return that he thought might get him all the way to the end zone, but he was cut off and had to settle for setting his team up with prime field position at the Texans' 42-yard line.
"The big boy was moving a lot faster than I realized and cut me off," Hansen said. "But it was fun getting up and celebrating."
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The next challenge for Hansen will be showing that the performance was more than just a flash in the pan as he competes for what looks to be a wide-open race for depth linebacker spots. Demario Davis and Pete Werner, neither of whom saw the field vs the Texans, appear to be in line to start at the Mike and Will spots. Behind them is probably anyone's role to grab. Nephi Sewell opened some eyes with six tackles in his first NFL action, Kaden Elliss and Wilson also seem to be high on the list, but rookie D'Marco Jackson is now on IR. Andrew Dowell is likely on the roster due to his role on special teams, but the Saints kept seven linebackers a year ago and Hansen was one of them. If he can continue his strong play throughout joint practices with the Packers and a Week 2 matchup on Friday, it's possible he could see his name on that list again.
The Saints must cut down to 85 players this week, with the final cutdown to 53 coming on Aug. 30.
"We have so many good linebackers right now where it’s like, that’s not up to me," Hansen said. "Thank goodness it’s not."
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