Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Saturday transactions are in for the New Orleans Saints ahead of their opening week competition. Among them, New Orleans waived one player, signed another and announced a pair of game day elevations.
Here are the Saints’ roster moves and elevations for Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.
- Waived quarterback Jake Haener from the active roster.
- Signed defensive end Fadil Diggs from the practice squad to the active roster.
- Elevated (standard) tight end Jack Stoll and defensive lineman Jonah Williams as standard game day.
The moves were mostly predictable sans the Haener transaction. But with two healthy, young quarterbacks in the room, not having an emergency third passer could be low on the team’s priority list.
It’s certainly lower than not having a fourth edge rusher available, which the Saints avoid by signing the rookie, Diggs, up to the active roster. He is likely to see action in rotation with veterans Carl Granderson, Cam Jordan and Chris Rumph II.
The quarterback spot has been an active one for roster management so far this offseason and to begin the regular season. Rookie quarterback Hunter Dekkers has already seen six transactions (three signings and three times being waived), meanwhile this is now Haener’s fourth transaction after having been waived at roster cuts, signed to the practice squad, signed to the active roster and now waived again.
It would not be surprising to see Haener added back next week, assuming another team doesn’t claim him off of waivers.
For Diggs, this could be a perfect time to show how he’s developed over the offseason. Meanwhile Stoll and Willimas get a chance to contribute early as veteran players. Stoll was a logical elevation as the “TE2” even though he wasn’t on the active roster. But he’s expected to outsnap rookie tight end Moliki Matavao early in the season with his experience working in head coach Kellen Moore’s offense.
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