The New Orleans Saints have been decimated by injury this season, and one group that has especially been hit hard is the wide receiver room. Rashid Shaheed is out for the year after injuring his meniscus, Chris Olave is on injured reserve after suffering two concussions in a month, and so is Bub Means, who injured his ankle. Veteran Cedrick Wilson Jr. is also sidelined with an injury.
Fortunately, the Saints recently signed veteran wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and he’s saving the wide receiver room right now. Sunday was Valdes-Scantling’s second active game of the year with New Orleans, but it sure didn’t look like it.
His trademark speed was on display in the first half, catching all three of his targets for 109 yards and two touchdowns. His explosive catches helped New Orleans go into the half leading 17-7.
First TD as a Saint coming in the Dome vs the Falcons 🙌#EasyToCelebrate | @BudLight pic.twitter.com/LfKAFikX31
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 10, 2024
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is delivering big plays for the Saints
It’s no surprise Valdes-Scantling has emerged as a big-play receiver in New Orleans, because that’s the kind of player he’s been all throughout his career. In 2020, he led the NFL in yards per catch with 20.9. That’s why he made sense as a replacement for Rashid Shaheed.
Outside of Valdes-Scantling, only two other receivers caught passes in the first half: Kevin Austin Jr. and Dante Pettis. Those two combined for two receptions for 22 yards, so Valdes-Scantling is quite literally saving the wide receiver group.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told sideline reporter Pam Oliver that the Falcons plan for talented corner A.J. Terrell to follow Valdes-Scantling in the second half. Hopefully, for New Orleans’ sake, Terell won’t be able to contain Valdes-Scantling either. If the Saints are going to close this game out, they will need more big catches from the veteran receiver in the second half.