Saints’ elevations suggest injury shakeup at wide receiver

Michael C. Hebert/New Orleans Saints

By Ross Jackson

SEATTLE, Wash. – While all eyes have been on the New Orleans Saints’ offensive line this week while the unit managed several injuries, the wide receiver room has been dealing with a pair itself. The Saints announced four roster moves on Saturday ahead of their game against the Seattle Seahawks, signalling some good news along the offensive line, but some potential concerns at wideout.

Here are the Saints’ pregame moves for Week 3:

Waived TE Moliki Matavao
Signed WR Kevin Austin Jr.
Elevated DE Fadil Diggs (Second Standard)
Elevated TE Treyton Welch (First Standard)

With no offensive line elevations for this week, that’s a positive precursor when it comes to the questionable players on this week’s list. New Orleans has already ruled out offensive lineman Dillon Radunz while tackle Taliese Fuaga and guard Trevor Penning are both questionable. While Fuaga has not practiced all week, Penning has been limited and participating each day.

Penning could be trending toward playing while Fuaga turns into a game day decision. The best path forward with the right tackle, however, might be sitting for a week in order to fully heal while dealing with not just a knee injury, but back injury, as well.

Meanwhile, the elevation of Austin suggests that, with two wideouts questionable, at least one might be unavailable. Former LSU Tiger Trey Palmer is nursing a hamstring injury and Devaughn Vele is navigating a hip ailment that struck during the practice week.

Palmer has been a healthy scratch each of the last two weeks, which suggests that if he were healthy, the elevation of Austin doesn’t bode well for his participation on Sunday. The decision could mean that Vele, who caught a red zone touchdown pass last week, could be the player to which the elevation is most closely related.

Welch, a preseason standout, will see his season debut ahead of Matavao, who was waived to make room for Austin. Diggs has now seen his second standard elevation, players from practice squads are allowed to a standard elevation three times in one season, leaving him one last elevation before he either stays on the practice squad or is added to the active roster to see more playing time.