Changes are on the way for the New Orleans Saints after multiple players were let go to start the week of practice. Two additions were signed to the practice squad on Wednesday -- one of them a familiar face, the other a newcomer at a position of need. Here's what you need to know.
Wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. has re-signed with the Saints' practice squad after being waived last week. The 26-year old appeared in each of the team's first four games, primarily working as a blocker and only catching one pass for seven yards. He's been with the Saints for a few years now and knows the playbook well. He maxed out his three single-game activations before being briefly promoted to the 53-man roster, but that counter resets after being waived and re-signed.
The team's first-round pick Jordyn Tyson is expected to return from injured reserve in the weeks ahead, perhaps as soon as Week 7's game in Paris against the Pittsburgh Steelers, so we'll have to wait and see what the plan is for Austin's usage moving forwards. He's one of four receivers on the practice squad now, along with Cedric Tillman (who was elevated for this past Sunday's game with the Minnesota Vikings), Jalen Moreno-Cropper, and Kyrese Rowan.
Running back Jarquez Hunter also signed with the Saints' practice squad, just one day after he was released by the Miami Dolphins. The Los Angeles Rams' 2025 fourth-round pick (out of Auburn) only played on special teams as a rookie before being traded to Miami this August. The 23-year old is listed at 5-foot-11 and 211 pounds and timed the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at last year's NFL Scouting Combine. He ran for 1,201 yards and scored eight rushing touchdowns in his senior year at Auburn, so let's see if he can recapture some of that playmaking ability. The Saints currently have Zamir White on the practice squad with Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, and CJ Donaldson on the 53-man roster. Kamara was limited at practice on Wednesday with a back injury.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints bring back a familiar face at WR, sign new RB to practice squad
