The New Orleans Saints fell to the Houston Texans 17-13 in the last NFL preseason game played on Sunday night. The unpleasant responsibility of setting the 53-man roster for the start of the regular season falls now to coach Dennis Allen and his staff.
On September 10, the Saints host the Tennessee Titans to kick off their 2023–24 season at home.
By 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 29, all NFL clubs had to reduce the 53 players on their active rosters. A 16-player practice squad is also allowed for each side, and they can start assembling it on Wednesday in the afternoon. Ten of those guys must have a combined NFL experience of no more than two years. The other six members of the practice squad are unrestricted.
A player can be placed on injured reserve after the NFL cutdown day without necessarily being sidelined for the full season. A player who is placed on the PUP list at the beginning of the season is required to sit out a minimum of four games. Until they return, any player who is on injured reserve, the PUP list, or the suspended list is not included in the active roster.
Here's the updated list of all the personnel moves made by the Saints to get to their 53-man roster.
RELEASED/WAIVED
- Johnathan Abram, S
- Nick Anderson, LB
- Kawaan Baker, WR
- Jake Bargas, FB
- Lynn Bowden, WR
- Jerron Cage, DT
- Ryan Connelly, LB
- Shaq Davis, WR
- Bryan Edwards, WR (previously released)
- Prince Emili, DT
- Mark Evans II, OL
- Chuck Filiaga, OL
- Adrian Frye, CB
- Blake Gillikin, P
- Jack Heflin, DT
- J.P. Holtz, TE
- Jesse James, TE
- Anthony Johnson, CB
- Lewis Kidd, T/G
- Jontre Kirklin, WR
- Tommy Kraemer, OL
- Lucas Krull, TE
- Niko Lalos, DE
- Scott Lashley, OT (previously released)
- Ellis Merriweather, RB
- Smoke Monday, S
- Storm Norton, OT
- Anfernee Orji, LB
- Alex Philstrom, G
- Tony Pride, CB
- Bradley Roby, CB
- Jaylon Smith, LB
- Ty Summers, LB
- Calvin Throckmorton, G
- James Washington, WR (previously released)
INJURED RESERVE
SUSPENDED LIST (pending)
• Alvin Kamara, RB (three games)
SIGNED
(None)
TRADED
• Wil Lutz, K (Denver Broncos)