The New Orleans Saints made a depth signing on Wednesday, and it's a familiar -- yet still different -- name.
The team announced they have signed DT Kahlil Saunders after a recent tryout. There was initially some confusion among fans who thought the team had brought back Khalen Saunders, a defensive tackle who spent two seasons with the Saints before being traded to the Jaguars late in the preseason. Khalen himself even weighed in.
"At this point I gotta meet this kid," he posted on X. "Good luck tho cuzzo. Enjoy the city! Nothing like Nola."
Coverage brought to you by Trane: It's Hard To Stop A TraneTrane: It's Hard To Stop A TraneMistaken identities aside, Saunders adds some bulk on the interior of the defensive line at 6-5, 270 pounds. He appeared in 51 games during his college career and started all 12 games for Kentucky last season. He logged 77 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks during his five collegiate seasons.
To make room on the roster the Saints officially moved guard Dillon Radunz to injured reserve, ending his season. Radunz tore his ACL during Saturday's practice. It's the second torn ACL of camp for the Saints. Bryan Bresee landed on IR with an ACL tear suffered during the first practice of camp.
The defensive tackle position's depth will be tested without Bresee, but it's appeared that second-year player Vernon Broughton will take on a majority of those reps, alongside veterans Nathan Shepherd and Davon Godchaux. The Saints also spent a second-round pick on DT Christen Miller, with the former Georgia Bulldogs standout getting a majority of his reps as the backup nose tackle.
Saunders' signing is the latest move amid some shuffling at the position, with the Saints also adding DL Brien Taylor and edge rusher Malakai Williams over the past week, while waiving DL Keeshawn Silver and Zxavian Harris.
