NEW ORLEANS SAINTS NEWS

Uncharacteristic and untimely struggles doomed the Falcons against the Saints

Kick Cousins says the Atlanta Falcons are “sick” over their loss to the last-place Saints after squandering multiple chances to take late leads

NOVEMBER 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taysom Hill - Six touches in Sunday's win Hill carried the ball four times for 14 yards and caught both his targets for 36 yards in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Falcons.

Impact Since returning from a rib injury in Week 8, Hill has seen at least six touches in three straight games, compiling 145 scrimmage yards and a rushing TD over that stretch. The versatile "tight end" will likely see modest but consistent volume again in Week 11 against the Browns, and his usage in the red zone makes him a threat to get into the end zone any given week.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Marquez Valdes-Scantling - Strikes for two TDs against Atlanta Valdes-Scantling caught all three of his targets for 109 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Falcons.

Impact He hauled in both of the Saints' touchdowns on the day, and his only non-scoring catch went for 67 yards. It was a stunning performance from the veteran wideout, who came into Sunday with only three catches for 31 yards on the year, but with Rashid Shaheed (knee) lost for the season and Chris Olave (concussion) lacking a clear return date, Derek Carr seems to have found his new big-play threat. Valdes-Scantling will try to solidify his spot in the New Orleans passing attack in Week 11 against Cleveland.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Alvin Kamara - Tops 100 scrimmage yards in win Kamara carried the ball 17 times for 55 yards and caught five of six targets for 54 yards in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Falcons.

Impact While he had trouble breaking a big gain on the ground, Kamara led the Saints in receptions and targets on the day and reached 100 scrimmage yards for the third straight contest and the seventh time this season in 10 games. Over that three-game stretch, Kamara has churned out 277 rushing yards and 169 receiving yards, but he hasn't gotten into the end zone since Week 6. He'll look to end that scoring drought in Week 11 against the Browns.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Derek Carr - Tosses two TDs in win Carr completed 16 of 25 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Falcons. He added 17 rushing yards on four carries.

Impact The veteran quarterback flashed a little bit of his early-season magic on deep balls, connecting with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a 40-yard TD in the second quarter before finding the wideout again for a two-yard score before halftime. Carr and the New Orleans' offense went into a shell in the second half to protect a lead and end the team's seven-game losing streak, as well as give interim coach Darren Rizzi his first victory, but the early fireworks were still an encouraging sign for a passing game that has been struggling due to multiple injuries to the wide receiver corps. Carr will try to build on this performance in Week 11 against the Browns.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Nobody beats the Rizz: Saints top Falcons 20-17 to snap 7-game skid in coach Darren Rizzi's debut

Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught three passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns in his second game for New Orleans, and the Saints began Darren Rizzi’s tenure as interim coach by sna...

NOVEMBER 10 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pete Werner - Questionable to return Werner (hand) is questionable to return to New Orleans' matchup Sunday versus the Falcons.

Impact Werner went down with a hand injury in the second half of the matchup, leaving his status for the rest of the game up in the air. Anfernee Orji is now in at linebacker in Werner's place.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Howden - Returns against Atlanta Howden (shoulder) has returned to Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Impact Howden went to the locker room after suffering a shoulder injury, but he is back on the field for the Saints in the second half of Sunday's game.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Taliese Fuaga - Returns Sunday Fuaga (hip) has returned to Sunday's game against the Falcons, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.

Impact Fuaga left in the first quarter of Sunday's game due to a hip injury. After being checked on by trainers, Fuaga is back in at left tackle.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Howden - Leaves game with shoulder injury Howden (shoulder) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Impact Howden has gone to the locker room after being helped off the field and checked on by trainers on the sidelines. J.T. Gray and Millard Bradford will be the depth safeties for the Saints if Howden is unable to return.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Taliese Fuaga - Exits with hip injury Fuaga (hip) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against Atlanta.

Impact While Fuaga is sidelined, Olisaemeka Udoh has come in at left tackle.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

John Ridgeway III - Back for Week 10 Ridgeway (oblique) is active for Sunday's game against Atlanta.

Impact Ridgeway was sidelined for Week 9 against Carolina due to an oblique injury, but the 2022 fifth-round pick will suit up Sunday. Across six regular-season games, Ridgeway has logged eight tackles (four solo) while serving as the Saints' backup defensive tackle.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Shane Lemieux - Active for Week 10 Lemieux (knee) is active for Sunday's game against Atlanta.

Impact Lemieux missed the Saints' last four regular-season game due to a knee injury. However, the 2020 fifth-round pick was activated off IR on Saturday and will suit up for Sunday's NFC South clash, though he'll likely serve as the backup center to Connor McGovern with Lucas Patrick (ankle) inactive.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Rico Payton - Will play vs. Atlanta Payton (back) is active for Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Impact Payton missed the Saints' Week 9 loss to the Panthers due to a back injury, but he will play Sunday after being a limited practice participant all week. Payton has logged four tackles (three solo) and one pass defense through eight regular-season games.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Will Harris - Returning to action in Week 10 Harris (hamstring) is active for Sunday's contest against Atlanta.

Impact Harris was activated from injured reserve Saturday after missing four games due to a hamstring issue. He'll return to the field Sunday and will likely play a major role in the Saints' secondary after playing 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps over the first four weeks of the campaign.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Jamaal Williams - Not playing Sunday Williams (groin) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Impact Williams sat out the Week 9 loss to Carolina, but he appeared to be tracking toward a return this weekend after he was a limited participant in practices Wednesday and Thursday. However, he took a step backward with no participation in Friday's practice and will now miss a second straight contest. With Williams sidelined once again, Jordan Mims is left as the lone available backup running back behind Alvin Kamara.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Erik McCoy - Staying on IR McCoy (groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Atlanta.

Impact McCoy's 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve opened Thursday. He was able to log consecutive limited practices to the end the week, but he'll be sidelined for Sunday's contest. McCoy's next chance at suiting up will be Week 11 against Cleveland on Sunday, Nov. 17.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Nephi Sewell - Won't return Week 10 Sewell (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Impact Sewell has been on the Saints' reserve/PUP list since the start of the regular season while working his way back from an ACL injury from Week 17 of the 2023 season. While he was able to practice in full all week, he appears to need more time before returning to action. Sewell's next opportunity to make his 2024 regular-season debut will be against the Browns in Week 11.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Dante Pettis - Elevated from practice squad New Orleans elevated Pettis from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Impact Pettis signed with the Saints' practice squad Oct. 15 after being let go with an injury settlement by the Bears on Sept. 5. He'll provide the Saints some depth at wide receiver against the Falcons on Sunday as Chris Olave (concussion) is on injured reserve and Cedrick Wilson (shoulder) has been ruled out. Pettis played in all 17 regular-season games with Chicago in 2023 and finished with 19 catches (on 41 targets) for 245 yards and three touchdowns.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Austin Jr. - Elevated for Week 10 The Saints elevated Austin from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Impact Austin and fellow practice squad wide receiver Dante Pettis will be on the Saints' active roster for Sunday's game against the Falcons. Both will provide depth at wideout with Chris Olave (concussion) and Bub Means (ankle) on injured reserve and Cedrick Wilson (shoulder) ruled out. Austin opted to stay in New Orleans on the practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE