By Ross Jackson
Every move means something. The New Orleans Saints shuffled their practice squad earlier in the week. While to many this would be an understated move, for the Saints, it had been in the making for some time.
New Orleans moved on from Louisiana native running back Jacob Kibodi on Tuesday, which was an early indicator that the team would be working running back Kendre Miller back this week. That ended up being the case, as Miller’s practice window was opened on Thursday with his return to practice.
Miller’s return allowed the Saints to move on from another runner and bring in another talent at a different position.
“We were adding a runner back to the ability to practice,” head coach Dennis Allen said. “So, that just made sense that that was the spot that we went to.”
With that slot opening on the practice squad, the Saints went back to a familiar face. The team returned wide receiver and return specialist Jermaine Jackson. The undrafted free agent out of Idaho was with the team during training camp but ended up sidelined with an injury that limited his participation. He would eventually be added to Injured Reserve and eventually waived with an injury settlement. As it turns out, the team was just biding its time to bring him back.
“Well, Jermaine (Jackson) was a guy that kind of wanted to have on the practice squad anyway,” Allen said. “Before he got injured. So, that was kind of one that we said, ‘Hey look, you go and rehab and get healthy.’ And then there’s a certain amount of time that you have to wait before you can sign the guy back to the practice squad. So, that was in the works from the time that he got injured.”
New Orleans got its wish. Jackson being back on the practice squad immediately raised questions about the health of the receiver position, but it sounds more like the Saints simply wanted him back. One of the big reasons being that he can provide depth both as a slot receiver and as a return specialist, per Allen. The Saints have been managing some injuries at wideout over the season.
Top receiver Chris Olave has been managing a hamstring injury. Veteran Cedrick Wilson Jr. suffered an ankle injury during a Week 4 practice, and second-year wide receiver A.T. Perry was managing his own hamstring injury as well, but also had a hand injury that impacted his availability early. While those injuries have not had much impact on game availability at the top of the position up to this point, having yet another option that can play in the slot and help as a returner is a welcome addition for the Saints.
