Saints bring back rookie defensive end

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS – It was not the one that fans expected, but the New Orleans Saints did end up reuniting with a former player after all.

Per KPRC’s Aaron Wilson, the Saints have brought back undrafted rookie defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat. The former Arkansas and Missouri edge defender is reportedly signing with the team’s practice squad.

Jeffcoat was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. His big-bodied frame at 6-foot-3 and 266 pounds matches the Saints’ typical prototype at the position. 

The defender had several standout moments throughout offseason training programs both on defense and in special teams reps. Though his progress was halted as the Saints began training camp in Irvine, Calif. Just two days in, Jeffcoat suffered a dislocated elbow injury that led to him being carted off of the practice field. 

While the injury was severe enough to require a cart and put the defensive end in a ton of pain, the good news is that there was no ligament damage nor was there a need for surgery.

Now that Jeffcoat is cleared and healed up, the Saints wasted no time reuniting with him, something that sources had indicated was still very much a possibility soon after the initial injury took place.