The Saints were still on the hunt for running back depth, and this time it appears they got their guy in veteran Darrel Williams.
Yet another former LSU standout joins the Saints after a workout, according to a report from NewOrleans.Football.
The signing adds another reliable body to a RB room that has been quickly depleted by injuries. Earlier this offseason Eno Benjamin went down with an Achilles injury that ended his season, while Kirk Merritt has been nursing a hamstring injury. The situation was made worse in the preseason opener with rookie Kendre Miller going down with what the team described as a sprained knee during a win over the Chiefs.
The top end of the RB room is healthy with Alvin Kamara and veteran Jamaal Williams, but the Saints will have to navigate the first three weeks without AK as he serves a suspension. UDFA Ellis Merriweather is also in the running for snaps after his impressive preseason performance on Sunday.
Related
Williams, who spent four years with the Tigers and was a teammate of Leonard Fournette, signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and quickly established himself as a reliable pass-catching option. Williams appeared in 51 games over four seasons with Kansas City, carrying the ball 237 times for 912 yards and 10 TDs, while catching 83 passes for 762 yards and another four TDs.
The Marrero native signed with the Cardinals -- replacing Benjamin after he was released by Arizona midway through the season -- for the 2022 season and was used sparingly in six games, carrying the ball 21 times for 102 yards and a TD, while catching another four passes for 9 yards.
Williams also joins a growing contingent of Louisiana natives or former LSU standouts on the roster, along with S Tyrann Mathieu, TE Foster Moreau, DT Malcolm Roach, WR Jontre Kirklin and RB Kirk Merritt.