The Saints had managed to avoid any major injuries throughout the entirety of the preseason up through Friday, but that changed quickly on the first drive against the Chargers.
Trevor Penning suffered a torn ligament, and the ripple effects of that injury will be seen in the projection below. The team has to decide how to handle the injury, but I think it's most likely they try to get their first-round pick back at some point this season. That'd require his name to be kept on the roster through the initial cuts, so he can be placed on IR with the option to return.
But you still have to keep his replacement at backup, and that'd mean a valuable roster spot has to be pulled from another position.
There are also injury questions lingering around Malcolm Roach and Tre'Quan Smith, who both left the game with issues and did not return.
With all that in mind, here is my final 53-man roster projection ahead of the final cutdown deadline (3 p.m., Tuesday).
JEFF'S ROSTER PROJECTION, 8/28
- Click here for 8.24 roster projection
- Click here for 8.17 roster projection
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OFFENSE (25)
QUARTERBACKS (2)
- Jameis Winston
- Andy Dalton
In 2021: 3 kept
NOTES: Nothing has really changed here. Andy Dalton’s foot injury wasn’t an issue in the preseason finale and Jameis Winston looked excellent. The positive news is Ian Book progressed well from his rough opener. He’ll be a good player to have on the practice squad.
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RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACKS (4)
- Alvin Kamara
- Mark Ingram
- Dwayne Washington
- Tony Jones Jr.
NOTES: I was curious whether Kirk Merritt would get to showcase his abilities at running back in the preseason finale. He did not. Assuming Dwayne Washington’s injury is not significant, I see the four names above as the most likely result. It’s a bit of a copout to leave a FB off the roster since I expect that position to be used throughout the season, but Adam Prentice isn’t getting claimed anywhere. Much like Alex Armah last season, I expect you leave him off the initial 53 with the intention of bringing him back.
In 2021: 4 kept
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TIGHT END (4)
- Adam Trautman
- Nick Vannett
- Juwan Johnson
- Taysom Hill
In 2021: 4 kept
NOTES: This position is tough, but I still think you keep Vannett around if you can. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets moved for a low-end asset as a reliable blocking TE with starting experience. Either way, I think early on in the season you’ll want to make sure Jameis is protected and he’s the best option you have as a blocking TE.
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WIDE RECEIVER (5)
- Michael Thomas
- Jarvis Landry
- Chris Olave
- Deonte Harty
- Marquez Callaway
In 2021: 5 kept
NOTES: Injuries in the final preseason game have made at least one roster spot left to be found at another position, and I think this is it. I don’t think the question was whether you kept Tre’Quan or somebody else, I think it was whether you’re keeping five or six receivers. With Tre’Quan now battling a shoulder injury and really having done nothing notable throughout the preseason, I think that’s the spot you trim as you hold onto an extra lineman. One thing that might keep Tre on the initial roster is if the Saints want to send him to IR with the option to return down the road. It could be a nice security blanket if you end up with injuries at WR and need an extra body that knows the offense. I think it’s possible you leave one of the linebackers off the roster with the intention of bringing them back, if you wanted to go this route.
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OFFENSIVE LINE (10)
- Ryan Ramczyk
- Andrus Peat
- Erik McCoy
- Cesar Ruiz
- James Hurst
- Trevor Penning
- Calvin Throckmorton
- Landon Young
- Nick Martin
- Lewis Kidd
In 2021: 9 kept
NOTES: This is the position where you simply have to hold an extra player, assuming the Saints intend to get Trevor Penning back this season. The 2022 IR rules allow teams to bring back as many as eight players from that list after at least 4 weeks out, but only if they go on IR during the season. If the rookie goes on IR now, he’s done until 2023. With a torn ligament in his foot that likely requires surgery, I think you’re still hopeful to have him down the road, so I think the team holds onto him through the initial 53, not unlike they did with Wil Lutz last year. But you still need to hang onto James Hurst’s potential backup. Derrick Kelly felt like a potential name considering he held up well in the preseason finale, but he was cut loose on Sunday, leaving Lewis Kidd as the most likely pick If there’s no better option on waivers elsewhere. The other question is whether you hang onto Nick Martin, and I think you do. Cesar Ruiz has had enough struggles without worrying about double-duty as the backup center.
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DEFENSE (25)
DEFENSIVE LINE (9)
- Cam Jordan
- Marcus Davenport
- Payton Turner
- Carl Granderson
- Tanoh Kpassagnon
- David Onyemata
- Malcolm Roach
- Shy Tuttle
- Kentavius Street
In 2021: 8 kept
NOTES: This position still feels pretty well ordered, though Malcolm Roach suffered an injury that could throw a wrench into things. I’m going to assume it’s not a major injury and leave this group intact, with plenty of time to get healthy ahead of the opener in Atlanta. Taco Charlton and Jordan Jackson aren’t far off, but I don’t see them supplanting anybody on the list above.
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LINEBACKER (6)
- Demario Davis
- Pete Werner
- Kaden Elliss
- Nephi Sewell
- Eric Wilson
- Andrew Dowell
In 2021: 6 kept
NOTES: I’d have needed a reason to change my mind here, and I didn’t see anything particularly exciting from Jon Bostic or Zack Baun to delete any of the names above in their favor. I still think you keep six linebackers, and Chase Hansen being unable to get on the field makes it tough to look his way. I think Nephi Sewell played better than he got credit for. He sniffed out a screen and missed the tackle due to an uncalled block in the back. He and Marcus Maye also combined for a pair of goal-line stops in the first half. Eric Wilson led the team in tackles. They’re the best options at this point, in my opinion, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team bring a player in on waivers, because the depth is still a real question.
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CORNERBACK (4)
- Marshon Lattimore
- Paulson Adebo
- Bradley Roby
- Alontae Taylor
In 2021: 4 kept
NOTES: This is as secure a position as there is on the roster. The only real question is how much you can expect out of Alontae Taylor in his rookie season. Bradley Roby got burned deep on a play in the Chargers game, but there’s a reason he’s not the guy you put on an island in press coverage. Adebo and Lattimore will man that position and you’ll be happy to have Roby as premium depth and a dime option.
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SAFETY (6)
Saints DB Justin Evans snags a ball during training camp practice.USAT Images
- Tyrann Mathieu
- Marcus Maye
- CJ Gardner-Johnson
- PJ Williams
- JT Gray
- Justin Evans
In 2021: 5 kept
NOTES: This group has been impressive and no change is necessary. Justin Evans is the closest to the line if you end up having to make a tough decision, but I think he’s done more than enough to earn a spot on the roster.
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SPECIALISTS (3)
- K Wil Lutz
- P Blake Gillikin
- LS Zach Wood
In 2021: 4 kept (Lutz to PUP/IR)
NOTES: I’ll quote myself from last week: Set it and forget it.
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CLOSE/PRACTICE SQUAD PRIORITIES
Saints WR/RB Kirk Merritt catches a ball during training camp drills.USAT Images
- QB Ian Book
- WR Dai’Jean Dixon
- WR Rashid Shaheed
- WR Kirk Merritt
- RB Abram Smith
- S Daniel Sorenson
- DT Josh Black
- DT Jordan Jackson
- DE Taco Charlton
- LB Zack Baun
- LB Jon Bostic
- LB Chase Hansen
- FB Adam Prentice
- TE JP Holtz
- CB Vincent Gray
- OL Derrick Kelly
NOTES: No particularly surprising names here, but you have several who might be eyed for a waiver claim by another team. There were also a handful of names from last week’s projection that were trimmed because they either landed elsewhere or ended up on injured reserve. I have a feeling Baun gets claimed by a team that thinks he fits their scheme better, and Tre'Quan would probably be tough to stash here if he's healthy. Either way, the choices here will be interesting considering it's a larger group (16) than it has been in the past.
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