The Saints' partnership with a former Falcons star running back appears to have been short-lived.
Two-time Pro Bowler Devonta Freeman was reportedly being released on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The move comes hours ahead of the deadline for teams to cut their rosters down to the customary 53 players for the regular season.
Freeman, 29, was signed in early August for depth in the backfield.
The Florida State product has battled injuries and struggled to find a role in recent seasons, seeing a steep dropoff in production after he posted back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons with Atlanta in 2015 and '16. His 11 rushing touchdowns paced the league in the former campaign.
A fourth-round pick by the Falcons in 2014, Freeman latched on with the New York Giants last year after starter Saquon Barkley was lost to a season-ending knee injury. Freeman appeared in five games, starting four.
Freeman spent the first six years of his career in Atlanta. For his career, he has 4,144 yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground. The 5-foot-8 Florida native has also factored in the passing game out of the backfield, reeling in 264 receptions for 2,073 yards and 11 scores.
The Saints will once again roll with four-time Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara as their starting back, with primary backup Latavius Murray seeing a healthy dose of touches in relief.
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