The New Orleans Saints didn't waste any time getting the roster to 85 players, announcing five moves a day before the deadline to cut down from 90.
Three of those moves were reported Sunday in the release of cornerback Prince Amukamara, defensive end Noah Spence and running back Stevie Scott. Recently signed kicker Brett Maher was also waived, while offensive lineman Kyle Murphy was sent to injured reserve.
The lone surprising move of the bunch was Maher, whom the team signed last week after it was revealed kicker Wil Lutz would need surgery to repair a core muscle injury and is expected to miss the start of the season. Maher was signed after a tryout and was seen kicking once in practice, going 4-for-6.
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Maher handled kickoffs and made both of his extra-point attempts in the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens, but was waived with an injury designation two days later.
The move brings the Saints to Tuesday's new limit of 85 players, but without a placekicker on the roster. If they sign a new kicker before Monday's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they'd have to make a corresponding move to keep the roster at 85 players.
One name to keep in mind is a kicker who participated in Saturday's game wearing a different jersey: Jake Verity. The former East Carolina kicker went 2-for-2 on his field goal attempts from 42 and 53 yards, but it's highly unlikely he sticks on a final roster that already features one of the NFL's top kickers in Justin Tucker.
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While the Saints likely have options if they choose to sign a veteran, pursuing Verity would follow the same strategy that brought Lutz to New Orleans. Lutz initially signed with the Ravens in 2016 but was cut in the preseason. The Saints signed him that offseason, and he has held that job ever since.