Former Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins teases a comeback
By Kristen Wong
New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins hung up his cleats last March but has addressed some rumors surrounding his potential un-retirement in 2022.
Jenkins spent the beginning and end of his 13-year NFL career in New Orleans, developing into a reliable starter and heralded leader in the backfield. He did, however, join the Philadelphia Eagles in the middle of his career and arguably played his best football there, earning three Pro Bowl nods.
In six years in Philly, Jenkins recorded 11 interceptions and started every game, and he went on to win the Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2017.
After news of C.J. Gardner-Johnson's injury, many Philly fans are pleading with Jenkins to un-retire and join the Eagles for a potential Super Bowl run this season, though Jenkins said it's more complicated than that.
Everyone’s asking if I’m coming back… technically the Saints have the rights to my contract. 🤷🏾♂️I know Eagles fans love a comeback story 😅 but don’t think you’ll get one this time… but I meant what I said 👀
— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) December 1, 2022
Retired Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins has no shot at playing with the Eagles in 2022
As with the case of Sean Payton, the Saints still hold the rights to Jenkin's contract. Since the NFL trade deadline has passed, even if Jenkins wanted to come back to play for the Eagles, he couldn't be traded.
The only way he could join the Eagles is if the Saints relinquish his contract and waive Jenkins. Philly can then sign Jenkins if he clears waivers.
From a logical standpoint, that isn't going to happen. NOLA wouldn't receive any compensation by tearing up his contract and have absolutely no reason to do so.
Not only would Jenkins be going to an NFC rival, but he would be going to a franchise that has utterly screwed the Saints over in recent deals. The picks trade. The C.J. Gardner-Johnson swoop. Howie Roseman has already robbed the Saints twice this year, and the Saints aren't just going to happily hand him another bag of jewels.
At the very least, NOLA has more self-respect than that. Jenkins should remain retired unless he wants to help the Saints' struggling defense get back on its feet this season.
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But no one can blame Jenkins for not wanting to get into that mess.