Saints practice squad players who we'd like to see get a chance after the bye week
With the New Orleans Saints losing this past Monday in ridiculous fashion, their hopes of making the playoffs are gone. I don't care that it's probably still mathematically possible -- They're not winning this terrible division and hosting a playoff game.
With all of that said, it's time to start letting some of the unknowns (and potentially somewhat proven) players on the Saints practice squad come up to the active roster and seeing what they can do. Whether the Saints allow some of their injured players to rest up for the rest of the season or however they want to make this happen, here are some practice squad players we'd like to see more from.
WR Kirk Merritt
For anyone who paid close attention to the Saints over the summer, Kirk Merritt was probably a name you're not just now hearing for the first time. Merritt dazzled in camp and the preseason and I even wrote about how hard it'd be for the team to cut him back in August.
Merritt has spent the season on the practice squad but he finally got the call up to the active roster this past week where he played 63% of special teams snaps and 19% of offensive snaps. He wasn't targeted in the game but with Michael Thomas injured, the team effectively giving up on Marquez Callaway, and Tre'Quan Smith never panning out, there could be some chances for Merritt to prove himself in these final four games.
DE Jordan Jackson
A sixth-round rookie out of Air Force, Jackson didn't make the initial roster and has spent the entirety of the season on the Saints' practice squad. As a senior in 2021 at Air Force, Jackson notched 39 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. He clearly has potential and the Saints' defensive line hasn't been very impressive this season.
Why not give the rookie a chance to show what he can do? I'd be all for Jordan Jackson getting a chance to play on the active roster this year even if it's just on special teams for the final few games.
RB Derrick Gore
With Alvin Kamara playing like a running back who is afraid to fumble for the fifth time this season and Mark Ingram clearly not in the same realm that he used to be, perhaps it's time for the Saints to bring up Derrick Gore off the practice squad and see if he could be an option to hang onto in the future.
Back in July, I wrote about how New Orleans should be monitoring the Chiefs' running back situation because they had tons of promising options at the position. Gore was one of those promising options after he rushed for over 250 rushing yards, over 100 receiving yards, and two rushing touchdowns in 11 games with the Chiefs in 2021.
The Saints have nothing to lose by calling Gore up from the practice squad. He could end up being a big-time player for them if given the chance. They do have a tendency to lose their talented practice squad running backs to other teams so why not get in front of the trend here?
TE Lucas Krull
Saints fans were enamored with the UDFA signing out of Pitt but unfortunately, Lucas Krull didn't make the final cut. He's spent the season stashed away on the practice squad.
Juwan Johnson has played himself into the TE1 role for the Saints moving forward so if Krull were to get promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, it'd be for special teams purposes. With Adam Trautman not performing up to standards, perhaps Krull could be looked at as a future TE2 for the team.
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Who would you like to see get a chance from the Saints practice squad?