This is tough. Jontre Kirklin was easy to root for during New Orleans Saints training camp — the former LSU Tiger was a hometown favorite who competed hard on special teams and initially signed with the team’s practice squad after roster cuts. But Kirklin was let go on Tuesday, opening a spot on the practice squad for someone else. Maybe he bounces back like J.T. Barrett and Will Clapp before him, but this might be it for him.
The timing is interesting. The Saints put Tre’Quan Smith on injured reserve for at least the first four games just days ago, so they’re now down to only seven wide receivers between the 53-man roster (Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, Rashid Shaheed, Keith Kirkwood, and A.T. Perry) and the practice squad (with Lynn Bowden Jr. and Shaquan Davis). They previously carried nine receivers. Why are they approaching things differently?
Buy Saints TicketsSpecial teams might hold the answer. The Saints aren’t as deep at cornerback as they might like to be with four corners on the 53-man roster and an undrafted rookie, Anthony Johnson, rounding out the group on the practice squad. They brought in five cornerbacks for free agent tryouts Tuesday and they could be angling to find someone who can play Kirklin’s role in the kicking game (if needed) who also reinforces a position group they feel is thinner than it should be. We’ll have to wait and see what other shoe is dropping.
