This is a bit of a surprise. To make room for new waiver claims, the New Orleans Saints are cutting backup wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. after he initially made the 53-man roster, reports Adam Schefter for ESPN. Austin himself is subject to waivers because he's only accrued two seasons in the NFL (veterans with four or more years' experience directly enter free agency) so there's a chance another team could snap him up. Before landed in New Orleans, Austin played college football at Notre Dame and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie free agent in 2022.
Obviously the Saints would like to keep him on their practice squad, but it may not be up to them. Maybe that's why they waited for the first day of waiver claims to process before
making him available. Any team that claims Austin would have to release another player in a corresponding move. If he isn't claimed on waivers by Tuesday, New Orleans can re-sign him to their practice squad.
Austin had a strong summer, consistently catching passes in team drills at training camp and making the most of his snaps in the preseason games. He threw a couple of key blocks on some of the Saints' touchdown runs in the preseason finale and looks like he belongs. He's a big target at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, and he just might be putting some things together. Let's see if he sticks in New Orleans. Because the Saints were awarded two players on Monday's waiver wire update, they'll have to make another move to remain compliant with the 53-man roster limit.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: In surprise move, Saints waive another wide receiver after roster cuts
