The New Orleans Saints usually have a good special teams unit. However, they have certainly had their fair share of struggles in that department. From kicking, to punting, to returning, this unit needs a jolt. The new kickoff rules could certainly spice things up, alongside a brand-new punter to start the 2024 campaign. Unfortunately, one of their biggest moves after roster cuts were struck down before fans could even enjoy it.
New Orleans Saints Locked In Kene Nwangwu
The day after the Saints cut down their roster to 53 players, they immediately hit the waiver wire and signed veteran running back Kene Nwangwu. Nwangwu wasn’t a signing for the backfield, he was a signing for special teams. Since he entered the league with the Minnesota Vikings, he quickly became a very explosive and elite return man. He was named Second-Team All-Pro in that category in 2022 as well. This was the first major step to the Saints attempting to change their strategy in that department.
For a very brief point in time, the fans were thrilled to land him. The reason it was so short-lived was that the Saints later waived Nwangwu with a failed physical designation. It was disappointing to hear the least because the Saints, along with many other teams, want to take advantage of this new kickoff format. Bringing in a superstar return man to specialize in that department could have constantly given this team an advantage during the regular season.
Other Options Still Available
Luckily for New Orleans, the team still has other options. It isn’t like Nwangwu was the only possible guy for the job on the team. The Saints will likely just stick with Rashid Shaheed in the return game, as he is quick, explosive, and always finds a way to make something special happen with the ball in his hands. The only downside to using him back there is the risk of injury. He’s the second-best receiver on a team that doesn’t have much wideout depth. Losing him would be a big blow, so risking him on returns isn’t a lovely idea. At the end of the day though, it’s not bad either. Plus, we’ve also heard that the team has been thinking of placing Alvin Kamara back to return kicks on special occasions. I wouldn’t expect that anytime soon, but you never know.
I believe that the team will continue to look for an explosive return man for the upcoming season. It might take a bit of time, but at some point, there should be an addition there. Nwangwu not passing the physical is truly disappointing, and it could have changed how we view this Saints special teams unit.