Saints cut Amukamara, waive Maher among several roster moves
Saints coach Sean Payton says the Saints have cut cornerback Prince Amukamara and waived kicker Brett Maher with an injury designationAUGUST 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LATAVIUS MURRAY
300 YDS •
79 ATT •
4 TD
300 YDS
79 ATT
4 TD
Facing roster challenge? Murray still seems likely to make the Saints' Week 1 roster, but he may be competing with Devonta Freeman for a single spot, according to Larry Holder of The Athletic.
Impact Murray was oft-mentioned in the winter as a potential offseason cap casualty, but the team kept him around after releasing other veterans in February and March. The Saints can still add around $3.3 million in cap space if Murray is traded/released before Week 1, per overthecap.com, but they might be getting a downgrade with Freeman, who is two years younger yet hasn't aged as gracefully. Both veterans lost fumbles in Saturday's preseason loss to Baltimore, while 2020 UDFA Tony Jones took seven carries for 82 yards and a touchdown. All that said, Murray has a long track record in the NFL -- playing 14 or more games in each of seven seasons -- and he did solid work for the Saints behind Alvin Kamara the past two years. It's something to watch over the next few weeks, but for now, Murray still seems likely to handle the No. 2 RB job in New Orleans.
AUGUST 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Struggles in preseason opener Murray rushed five times for six yards and lost a fumble in Saturday's 17-14 preseason loss to the Ravens. He added an 11-yard catch on two targets.
Impact Murray fumbled inside the Ravens' 10-yard line on the opening drive, which will do the veteran backup no favors in his bid to usurp some red-zone carries from Alvin Kamara, who was given the night off. Devonta Freeman was even less effective on his nine touches (10 yards and a fumble lost), but Tony Jones emerged as a contender for carries behind Kamara with 120 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 10 touches against Baltimore's backups. Murray will look to tighten up his ball security in Week 2 of preseason against the Jaguars.
AUGUST 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
DeShon Elliott scoops Latavius Murray's red-zone fumble for early turnover Baltimore Ravens safety DeShon Elliott scoops running back Latavius Murray's red-zone fumble for early turnover.
AUGUST 14, 2021 • NFL.COM
Latavius Murray Fantasy Outlook Includes Huge Alvin Kamara Handcuff Potential When it comes to the New Orleans Saints, there's no question about it: Alvin Kamara is the team's No. 1 running back. However, that doesn't...
AUGUST 13, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Saints Training Camp 2021: Coach Sean Payton, Pete Werner, Latavius Murray transcripts Payton on Werner: 'I think so far he’s looked really smart'
AUGUST 3, 2021 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM
Saints add veteran Freeman to running back corps
Former Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants running back Devonta Freeman is joining the New Orleans SaintsAUGUST 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Expects another solid year Murray believes he can continue to improve his efficiency, Sam Shannon of the Saints' official website reports.
Impact Murray finished 2020 with his best numbers since his rookie season for yards per carry (4.5) and yards per target (6.8), producing 832 yards and five touchdowns on 169 touches. The workload was nearly identical to his first season in New Orleans, with Murray getting 11 fewer touches in one fewer game (he missed Week 17 in 2020). The 31-year-old running back then survived the Saints' offseason purge, despite carrying a non-guaranteed $2.95 million base salary in the third season of a four-year, $14.4 million contract. The Saints could still free up more than $2.3 million in cap space if Murray is released, but they'd likely have cut him in June if they were set on prioritizing the money over the player. While a poor training camp might put him in some danger, Murray currently appears set for a third straight season working behind superstar Alvin Kamara in the New Orleans backfield. Per usual, most of the fantasy appeal is based on what Murray might do if Kamara misses time, though it'll also depend on what the team's offense looks like with Jameis Winston and/or Taysom Hill replacing Drew Brees under center.
JULY 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Latavius Murray focused on increased efficiency entering 2021 campaign for New Orleans Saints 'I just want to be more efficient than I was the year previously, or just the best ever to be honest with you'
JULY 6, 2021 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM
Former CBA star Stevie Scott III signs free-agent contract after going undrafted The running back is looking to join Latavius Murray and Riley Dixon as the Central New York contingent currently playing in the NFL.
MAY 2, 2021 • SYRACUSE.COM
Could 2021 be a career year for Saints’ Latavius Murray? Defenses around the league are fully aware of the playmaking ability of Pro Bowl talent Alvin Kamara, but could this upcoming season be a ca...
MARCH 24, 2021 • WHODATDISH.COM
The writing is on the wall for Saints’ RB Latavius Murray With the New Orleans Saints going through a massive overall of their salary cap, it seems like no player's job, position, salary, etc.. is g...
MARCH 15, 2021 • WHODATDISH.COM
Saints seem likely to trade Latavius Murray after re-signing Washington The New Orleans Saints are bringing back Dwayne Washington and Ty Montgomery next season, and that could signal the end of Latavius Murray's...
MARCH 11, 2021 • WHODATDISH.COM
3 teams that should overpay for Saints’ Latavius Murray The New Orleans Saints are open to trading backup running back Latavius Murray. One of just a handful of teams still in the red, New Orleans...
MARCH 10, 2021 • WHODATDISH.COM
Saints: Latavius Murray could be the NFL’s most underrated trade target According to MMQB's Albert Breer via Saints Wire's John Sigler, New Orleans is open to trading Latavius Murray and Emmanuel Sanders. What we...
MARCH 9, 2021 • WHODATDISH.COM
Saints: 3 less-expensive running backs than Latavius Murray Latavius Murray gave the Saints a spark of life this year. He was more than just a change-of-pace running back to Alvin Kamara; he ended up...
MARCH 7, 2021 • WHODATDISH.COM
Saints’ Alvin Kamara isn’t enough to cut Latavius Murray The New Orleans Saints will be looking to cut cap space, and Alvin Kamara's struggles could make Latavius Murray a player that cannot be a c...
FEBRUARY 24, 2021 • WHODATDISH.COM
New Orleans Saints 2020 season recap: Latavius Murray Saints running back provided a dynamic punch to the offense in 2020
FEBRUARY 16, 2021 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM
Productive second season Murray, who missed the team's final playoff game with a quad injury, finished the regular season with 146 carries for 656 yards and four touchdowns and added 23 receptions for 176...
Impact Murray finished with the same number of carries as he had in 2019, though he was less involved as a receiver and ended the season with fewer scrimmage yards and one fewer touchdown. Playing second fiddle to Alvin Kamara, Murray still played solid football, going for 832 yards on 179 touches and flashing his upside in a big Week 12, where he went 19-124-2. Still under contract, he'll return to New Orleans in 2021, where he'll likely play the lesser half of a timeshare with Kamara, a role he's already performed for two seasons.
JANUARY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Saints scratch QB Hill, RB Murray vs. Buccaneers
The Saints have ruled out two regular contributors to their running attack — option quarterback Taysom Hill and running back Latavius Murray — from Sunday’s divisional round playof...JANUARY 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Taking seat Sunday Murray (quadriceps) is inactive for Sunday's divisional-round game versus the Buccaneers, Amie Just of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Impact After making just one limited appearance at practice this week, Murray will take a seat as a result of a quad issue. With the veteran running back sidelined, Alvin Kamara likely is in line for a sizable workload, but Dwayne Washington, Ty Montgomery and fullback Michael Burton all are available out of the Saints backfield.
JANUARY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Taysom Hill, Latavius Murray likely out for Saints vs. Bucs The New Orleans Saints are expected to be without two key members of their offense when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night i...
JANUARY 17, 2021 • USATODAY.COM
Looks unlikely for divisional round Murray (quadriceps), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional-round game against the Buccaneers, isn't expected to play, Ian Rapoport and Jane Slater of NFL Network re...
Impact While managing the quad injury, Murray sat out practices Wednesday and Thursday before returning to work Friday on a limited basis. That level of activity was enough for Murray to take a questionable designation into the weekend, but unless he demonstrates more improvement in a pregame workout, the 30-year-old looks at risk of being ruled out ahead of Sunday's 6:40 p.m. ET kickoff. If Murray is active, both Dwayne Washington and Ty Montgomery would likely dress as reserve options in the backfield, but neither can be counted on to have a sizable role on offense behind lead option Alvin Kamara.
JANUARY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Questionable for Sunday Murray (quad) is listed as questionable for Sunday's playoff game against the Buccaneers after returning to a limited practice Friday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Back-to-back DNPs Wednesday and Thursday set the stage for Friday to be pivotal with regard to Murray's chances of suiting up this weekend. If available Sunday, Murray would be in line to work in a complementary role behind the team's lead back, Alvin Kamara.
JANUARY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Misses another practice Murray (quad) didn't practice Thursday, Amie Just of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Impact With Murray and Taysom Hill (knee) both missing practice for a second straight day, Alvin Kamara may be tasked with an even larger portion of the rushing workload Sunday against the Buccaneers. Murray injured his quad in the Saints' wild-card win over Chicago, missing the entire fourth quarter after he pulled up limping at the end of a play in the third quarter.
JANUARY 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
