The Saints released kicker Blair Walsh and long snapper John Denney from their practice squad Wednesday.
Earlier that same day, New Orleans coach Sean Payton described the two veterans as a sort of a contingency plan for the Saints in case their current specialists were unavailable due to COVID-19 issues or injuries, similar to the predicament the team found itself in with no running backs available for Week 17.
Payton further explained Thursday that the veterans were signed in order to get them in the COVID-19 testing protocol and that the players are still allowed to test for the coronavirus daily making them eligible to be re-signed on short notice.
“The key is the on-boarding, the key is the daily testing, the key is all of that pretty much,” Payton said. “So we just don’t want to be put in position where all of a sudden it’s Saturday or even on gameday, someone runs into your kicker, your long snapper and your starting to say well we are not going to see them ’til Saturday in preparation for the next game. So, we’re kind of moving things along.”
Under the protocols, newly acquired players must go through an on-boarding process that requires multiple negative COVID-19 tests before being able to participate in team activities.
For example, when Saints traded for linebacker Kwon Alexander earlier this season, he had to complete a five-day on-boarding process, making him ineligible to practice or play. By having the Walsh and Denney already complete that process and continue testing, it allows them to be re-signed and participate in team activities immediately.
