Dennis Allen's New Orleans Saints hoped to wrap up a perfect preseason when they hosted the Houston Texans on Sunday night.
A year ago, Dennis Allen's first year as the head coach saw the club post a 1-2 record during the summer and followed that up with a 7-10 regular season. It was the franchise's first losing campaign since 2016 and it marked the second consecutive year that the team failed to make the playoffs. This after winning four consecutive NFC South titles (2017-20).
On Sunday night at home against the Houston Texans, Allen's team came up short, 17-13. This followed victories in their first two preseason contests over the Chiefs (26-24) and Chargers (22-17). Now comes an important time for all 32 clubs as they must be down to 53 players by 4:00 pm ET on Tuesday, August 29.
While the club's most notable offseason addition was quarterback Derek Carr, there are quite a few other notable veterans who inked deals with the club this offseason. Will they all be around when the team kicks off the season on September 10 at home vs. the Tennessee Titans?
Saints who earned roster spot No. 3: LB Jaylon Smith
The one-time second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2016 (who did not play as a rookie) and a 2019 Pro Bowler with Dallas spent this past season with the New York Giants. He finished second on the club with 88 tackles despite playing in only 13 contests.
Linebacker Jaylon Smith joined the Saints roughly three days before their first preseason game this year vs. the defending Super Bowl champions. While the six-year veteran didn't play vs. Kansas City, Smith started vs. both the Chargers and Texans. At Los Angeles, he finished with three stops and knocked down a pass. Against Houston, he led the Saints with five tackles, two of those for losses. This could prove to be an excellent late addition.
Saints who earned roster spot No. 2: TE Jimmy Graham
It was good to see the talented performer back on the field after what happened less than a week ago. Tight end Jimmy Graham, who inked a one-year, $1.31 million deal with the Saints in late July (via Spotrac), was arrested in an incident described as a "medical episode" by team officials.
On Sunday vs. the Texans, he finished the evening with three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown. In the game, the 2010 third-round pick of the Saints made one of those catches reminiscent of his play during his early days in New Orleans.
In his first five NFL seasons, Graham totaled an impressive 386 catches for 4,752 yards and 51 scores. There were three Pro Bowl invitations and an All-Pro nod in 2013. He was surprisingly traded to the Seahawks in 2015 and after an injury-shortened first year with the club, put up respectable numbers with Pete Carroll's team and earned two more Pro Bowl invites.
Graham signed with the Packers in 2018 and then joined the Bears in 2020. Over the course of those four seasons, he combined for just 157 receptions, 16 for scores. He didn't play in 2022 and if he makes the Saints' final roster, there could be some NFL Comeback Player of the Year talk down the road.
Saints who earned roster spot No. 1: DE Niko Lalos
The Dartmouth University product was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants in 2020. He wound up appearing in the club's final six games and interesting enough, he not only finished with five tackles, he came up with a fumble recovery and an interception.
In 2021 and 2022, defensive end Niko Lalos would not appear in a regular-season game with either the Giants or Saints. He signed a futures contract earlier this year with Dennis Allen's squad and has been busy during this preseason.
In the preseason opener vs. the Chiefs, he saw some action on defense (18 plays) as well as special teams. He was credited with knocking down one pass. It was a much different story at SoFi Stadium against the Chargers. He saw more action on defense vs. the Bolts and in the club's 22-17 win, he led the Saints with five tackles (4 solo), three of the team's five sacks and one pass defensed.
On Sunday night vs. the Texans, Lalos finished with a pair of stops and was credited with one quarterback trap, which was actually a pair of half-sacks in the first half. The 6-foot-5, 249-pound defender certainly made the most of his playing time in the Saints' three preseason outings.
Saints cut candidate after Preseason Week 3: TE Jesse James
The eight-year veteran has bounced around the league in recent seasons. Tight end Jesse James entered the league as a fifth-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015. In four seasons with Mike Tomlin's club, he totaled 120 catches for 1,189 yards and nine scores. His first year in the NFL was also the last for Pittsburgh tight end Heath Miller, a two-time Pro Bowler who totaled 592 receptions in 11 seasons.
Filling those shoes would not be easy, but the former Nittany Lion did his best. He enjoyed a solid three-game run in the 2016 postseason, catching 11 passes for 137 yards vs. the Dolphins, Chiefs and Patriots. All told, he was part of three playoff teams in four years with Mike Tomlin's club.
James tested the free-agent market in 2019 and inked a four-year, $22.6 million deal with the Detroit Lions. He was released after two seasons after playing in 32 games but catching only 37 passes for 333 and three touchdowns. He spent 2021 with the Bears and joined the Browns in 2022. He played in only two games with the Browns in 2022 before being shelved with a biceps injury.
The Saints signed James to a one-year deal in late May. In early August, John Hendrix of SI.com reported that the 29-year-old performer was dealing with a groin issue. He did not play in any of New Orleans' three preseason outings.
