By Ross Jackson
CHARLOTTE – As expected, it was a busy Saturday indeed for the New Orleans Saints. The team is dealing with several injuries at cornerback and running back, prompting more than the usual Saturday standard elevations. Instead, the Saints announced nine different roster moves and updates ahead of their matchup with the Carolina Panthers.
Here are the moves New Orleans announced Saturday afternoon:
- Cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles, safety Millard Bradford and running back Jordan Mims have been signed to the active roster.
- Wide receiver Bub Means and running back Kendre Miller have been placed on Injured Reserve.
- Guard Kyle Hergel has been waived.
- Running back Jamaal Williams downgraded to out for this week’s game.
- Safety Roderic Teamer and cornerback Tre Herndon were brought up as standard game day elevations.
Let’s start with Injured Reserve (IR). We noted that Means heading to IR was a possibility based on some of the comments head coach Dennis Allen made throughout the practice week. Means and Miller will be eligible to return from the injury list for the Dec. 8 game at the New York Giants. The bye week does not count towards the four-game requirement.
This is Miller’s second time landing on IR this year. The NFL allows for players to return from the list twice per season, including the playoffs. After which his season would be over if he is placed on the list a third time.
To help make up for the loss of Miller for the next four games and with Williams being downgraded for Sunday, the Saints added Mims back to the active roster. This is Mims’s second season with the team. He had been on the active roster all season up until recently. He was brought back to the practice squad earlier in the week and now finds his way back to the 53-man roster. Mims is a player that deserves more opportunities on the field and one to watch in the latter portion of this game should the Saints build a lead. Until then, running back Alvin Kamara and do-it-all tight end Taysom Hill are likely to carry the bulk of the responsibility in the run game.
Jean-Charles, Herndon, Teamer and Bradford will all help the Saints overcome the absence of multiple cornerbacks. Starters Paulson Adebo (out for the year) and Marshon Lattimore will not be available this week, and talented rookie backups Kool-Aid McKinstry and Rico Payton may both be unavailable, as well. McKinstry is already ruled out, however Payton was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. He did not practice this week.
