The New Orleans Saints have released their gameday transactions. The moves include an elevation from their practice squad as well as an update to tight end Taysom Hill’s status.
Linebacker Isaiah Stalbird will be elevated for the game day roster as a standard elevation. He will be available to play against the Philadelphia Eagles. Meanwhile, Hill’s game status has been downgraded from questionable to doubtful, meaning he is unlikely to take to the field after suffering a chest injury in last week’s win over the Dallas Cowboys.
The loss of Hill for this week’s game will have an impact on the Saints’ offense for sure. But it should not lead to them changing their identity or approach. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will have to call upon fullback Adam Prentice a bit more to help in the backfield and we may see the debut of undrafted tight end Dallin Holker to help round out his position group.
Meanwhile Stalbird, who will see his second of three standard elevations this week, should provide value on special teams as well as with linebacker depth. Stalbird has one more elevation before the team would have to make a decision to add him to the active roster in order to see him on the field again, short of cycling him back through waivers.
Hill’s chest injury led to him being transported to a hospital last weekend for further imagine. He was able to travel back home to New Orleans with the team later that evening and did avoid major injury.
Head coach Dennis Allen held starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore out of their Week 2 tilt with the Cowboys despite Lattimore pushing to play. The Saints would be making the right move again this week playing it cautious with an injury to a key player.
Hill has thus far taken snaps at tight end, quarterback, running back, fullback, slot receiver and in all four of the special teams units. It will take multiple players to cover his roles, but the Saints have the talent (and scheme on offense) to get it done.
