Saints cut roster down to 53 men
Published 4:40 pm Tuesday, August 30, 2022
The New Orleans Saints made roster moves today to reach the National Football League-mandated reduction to 53 players, it was announced by Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.
The Saints terminated the contracts of the following six players:
- Josh Andrews, Offensive Lineman, 7-year experience, Oregon State
- Jon Bostic, Linebacker, 9-years experience, Florida
- Taco Charlton, Defensive End, 6-years experience, Michigan
- J.P. Holtz, Tight End, 4-years experience Pittsburgh
- Nick Martin, Center, 6-years experience, Notre Dame
- Eric Wilson, 6-years experience, Cincinnati
New Orleans waived these 12 players
- Ian Book, Quarterback, 2-years, Notre Dame
- Dai’Jean Dixon, Wide Receiver, rookie, Nicholls State
- DaMarcus Fields, Defensive Back, rookie, Texas Tech
- Vincent Gray, defensive back, rookie, Michigan
- Chase Hansen, Linebacker, 2-years, Utah
- Jordan Jackson, Defensive Tackle, rookie, Air Force
- Lucas Krull, Tight End, rookie, Pittsburgh
- Niko Lalos, Defensive End, 2-years, Dartmouth
- Kirk Merritt, Wide Receiver, 1-year, Arkansas State
- Derek Schweiger, Offensive Lineman, rookie, Iowa State
- Nephi Sewell, Linebacker, rookie, Utah
- Rashied Shaheed, Wide Receiver, rookie, Weber State
One player was placed on Injury Reserve
- Albert Huggins, Defensive Tackle, 2-years experience, Clemson
One player was suspended by commissioner Roger Gaddell
- Kawaan Baker, Wide Reciever, 1-year experience, South Alabama
Beginning Wednesday, the Saints may establish a practice squad of up to 16 players. The Saints will open the regular season Sunday, September 11 when they play at the Atlanta Falcons at 12:00 p.m. CT.
Additionally, the saints traded defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson and a 2025 undisclosed draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for future considerations in 2023 and 2024. The announcement was made by Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.
Gardner-Johnson, 6-0, 208, is in his fourth NFL season after being selected by New Orleans in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of the University of Florida. He’s appeared in 43 career regular season games with 31 starts, totaling 157 tackles (118 solo), three sacks, five interceptions, 28 passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and four special teams stops.
In 2021, the Cocoa, Fla. native played in 12 games with 11 starts and posted 46 tackles (32 solo), two sacks, three interceptions and seven passes defensed.