With the deadline to cut down to 85 players approaching, the Saints did just that on Monday, but with a few extra notable additions.
The Saints cut seven players, sent one player to IR and signed three others, including a veteran linebacker. See all the moves listed below:
Signed
- LB Jon Bostic
- DE Niko Lalos
- DT Jaleel Johnson
Waived
- DB Jordan Brown
- LB Isaiah Pryor
- DL T.J. Carter
- DB Jack Koerner
- DE Scott Patchan
- K John Parker Romo
- WR Easop Winston
To IR
- OL Ethan Greenidge
The team also reached an injury settlement with safety Bryce Thompson, who was placed on injured reserve last week.
The moves add some clarity to roster battles, particularly at linebacker where the team has continued to bring in names as it seeks depth behind Demario Davis and Pete Werner. Bostic is a 10-year veteran who was a second-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2013 NFL draft. In his career he's logged 555 tackles, 9.5 sacks, three interceptions, 15 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. Bostic started four games for Washington in 2021 but had his season end due to a pectoral injury.
Related
Johnson's is a familiar name, but Lalos is a bit of an unknown at the DE spot. Lalos made his NFL debut with the New York Giants in 2020 and spent the 2021 season on the team's practice squad before being waived earlier this month. In his career he's played in six games, logging six tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception. He's also logged one shoutout from NBA superstar LeBron James.
Among the cuts, likely the most surprising is that of Easop Winston, who filled in well in the return game during the 2021 season with Deonte Harty absent. But the Saints added return ace Rashid Shaheed this offseason, which likely made that skillset less valuable on the whole.
The Saints are traveling to Green Bay Monday before two days of joint practices with the Packers this week ahead of their Week 2 preseason matchup on Friday at 7 p.m.