DAVID ONYEMATA NEWS

Saints facing untimely depth challenges at positions in flux

Saints coach Sean Payton says reduced numbers of healthy tight ends, defensive tackles and cornerbacks on New Orleans' roster is becoming a challenge as the preseason winds down

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Saints camp subplot centers on new faces at defensive tackle

Saints defensive tackles Malcolm Roach and Shy Tuttle say they see the humble beginnings to their NFL careers as an asset as they see to take over as starters this season

AUGUST 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Saints' Payton critical of how Thomas' injury was handled

Saints coach Sean Payton says Michael Thomas' ankle surgery should have been performed earlier than in June and apparently will force the Saints to play some games without the star...

JULY 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Saints 53-man roster projection: Who replaces Michael Thomas, David Onyemata? While the roster projections will fluctuate as camp progresses, it's really depth that the Saints are looking for.

JULY 27, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Who will replace David Onyemata at Saints defensive tackle for six games? Meet the candidates The Saints are going to need some major help at defensive tackle. Which internal candidates could take a step?

JULY 22, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Suspended for six games Onyemata will be suspended for six games for violating the NFL Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances, Amie Just of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Impact Onyemata released a statement Friday morning on Instagram suggesting he may have accidentally consumed a banned substance in one of his supplements. It leaves the Saints even thinner at one of their weakest positions, after veteran DTs Malcom Brown and Sheldon Rankins signed with other teams earlier this offseason. And now Onyemata will be out until Week 8, though he's free to participate in all activities -- including training camp and the preseason -- up until Week 1. The 2016 fourth-round pick finished 2020 with career highs for tackles (44), QB hits (16) and sacks (6.5), outplaying Rankins (a 2016 first-rounder) for the second straight year.

JULY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Saints' Onyemata discloses failed test, expected suspension Saints starting defensive tackle David Onyemata says he has been been notified by the NFL he has tested positive for a banned substance and...

JULY 16, 2021 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

NFL suspends Saints' Onyemata 6 games for banned substance

Saints starting defensive tackle David Onyemata has been given a six-game suspension after being notified by the NFL he tested positive for a banned substance and hand the player s...

JULY 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Suspended for start of season Onyemata revealed Friday that he'll be suspended for part of the 2021 season after testing positive for a banned substance, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic reports.

Impact Onyemata didn't elaborate on the length of his suspension, but recent PED bans (WR Will Fuller, CB Bradley Roby) suggest it could be up to six games. The 28-year-old defensive tackle made 30 starts for New Orleans over the past two seasons, including a 2020 breakout with career highs for tackles (44), QB hits (16) and sacks (6.5). The Saints already had issues with depth at defensive tackle after losing Malcom Brown (to the Jaguars) and Sheldon Rankins (to the Jets) earlier this offseason. The current roster doesn't offer much experience at defensive tackle behind projected starters Onyemata and Shy Tuttle.

JULY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Saints DT David Onyemata says he will be suspended by NFL #Saints’ David Onyemata says he’s facing a suspension in message:

JULY 16, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Defensive tackle David Onyemata growing on, off field for New Orleans Saints 'When I go into a season, I go in to be a sponge and to be able to take coaching'

JUNE 24, 2021 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM

David Onyemata overlooked on list of best NFL interior defensive linemen David Onyemata snubbed on list of best NFL interior defensive linemen

JUNE 23, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Saints mindful of holes beyond QB in first post-Brees draft

The first New Orleans Saints draft since the retirement of all-time leading NFL passer Drew Brees might not include a quarterback

APRIL 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Saints restructure David Onyemata, save $4.3 million in cap space The New Orleans Saints have restructured the contract of defensive linemen David Onyemata. This will help alleviate some of their strain on...

MARCH 3, 2021 • WHODATDISH.COM

David Onyemata agrees to restructured contract, creating cap space There goes another domino: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the New Orleans Saints have agreed to a contract restructure with defensi...

MARCH 3, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Career year in 2020 Onyemata recorded 44 tackles (20 solo), 6.5 sacks, two passes defended and an interception across 15 regular-season games in 2020.

Impact Those numbers were all career highs for the fifth-year man, who's spent his entire career with New Orleans. He's been a key contributor on defense since entering the NFL, and he'll look to set new career-best numbers when he returns to New Orleans in 2021.

FEBRUARY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Saints' defensive line aims to disrupt Bucs' Brady once more

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan says New Orleans' defensive line sees its ability to pressure Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady as a potentially decisive factor when the teams m...

JANUARY 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Transcript - David Onyemata Conference Call 1/1/21 | Week 17 at Panthers New Orleans Saints defensive tackle talks about improving throughout his rookie year and preparations for the Saints Week 17 matchup against...

JANUARY 1, 2021 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM

Mahomes' dramatic flair marks Chiefs' 32-29 win over Saints

Patrick Mahomes passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs extended their winning streak to nine games with a 32-29 victory over the New Orleans Saints

DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Records sack in win Onyemata totaled four tackles (two solo) and a sack in the Saints' 21-16 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

Impact Onyemata recorded just one tackle in Week 12, though he was much more involved in this one, piling up four tackles and registering his sixth sack of the year. He'll look to add to that career-high total in Week 14 against the Eagles.

DECEMBER 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Transcript - David Onyemata Conference Call 11/26/20 | Week 12 at Broncos New Orleans Saints defensive linemen David Onyemata talks about the Saints’ defensive execution and his teammate Trey Hendrickson prior to t...

NOVEMBER 26, 2020 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM

Two sacks Sunday Onyemata produced three tackles (three solo), two sacks and two tackles for a loss in the Saints' 24-9 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

Impact With the performance, Onyemata brought his season sack total to five and set a new career high in season sacks, eclipsing his mark of 4.5 set in 2018. A matchup with Denver in Week 12 offers a chance to add to that total.

NOVEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Saints win 7th straight, beat Falcons in Hill's first start

Taysom Hill rushed for two touchdowns and passed for 233 yards in his first NFL start at quarterback, and the New Orleans Saints extended their winning streak to seven games with a...

NOVEMBER 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Transcript - David Onyemata Conference Call 11/18/20 | Week 11 vs. Falcons New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata talks Saints defense, Week 11 prep vs. Falcons

NOVEMBER 18, 2020 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM

Saints' defensive front gaining steam at season's midpoint

The Saints' defensive front is coming off one of its best games against Tampa Bay's Tom Brady and hoping for more of the same against San Francisco backup Nick Mullens this weekend

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS