With DE Payton Turner expected to miss significant time and headed to injured reserve, the Saints have been busy adding depth to that group.
DE Kyle Phillips will be signed to the 53-man roster, while former Rams and Bears DE Terrell lewis will be added to the practice squad. The Saints also signed WR Lynn Bowden Jr. and signed Ty Summers to the practice squad.
Phillips will be a familiar name for Saints fans, with the 26-year-old spending the majority of training camp with the team. His highlight came in the preseason opener against the Chiefs, when he intercepted a pass late in the 4th quarter to set up a game-winning field goal by Blake Grupe. Phillips spent his first three seasons with the New York Jets, appearing in 29 games and logging 65 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Lewis, 25, was a third-round pick of the Rams in 2020 and has appeared in 30 games for L.A. over three seasons, logging 40 tackles and 6 sacks.
The Saints found themselves in need of DE depth after Turner, a first-round pick in 2021, suffered a turf toe injury in the first half of a win against the Tennessee Titans. The injury will require corrective surgery, which will be expected to keep him out for upward of 3 months, but will not end his season.
Phillips will likely slot in behind rookie Isaiah Foskey in an impressive rotation of pass-rushers that includes veterans Cam Jordan, Carl Granderson and Tanoh Kpassagnon. Foskey was a healthy scratch for Week 1, but the No. 40 overall pick out of Notre Dame should see increased opportunity for Week 2 and beyond. The Saints have multiple roster spots still available to be filled and could potentially add more line depth in the coming days.
