Saints activate Mitchell Loewen to help with defensive line depth against Texans

Sheldon Rankins and Mario Edwards Jr. will not play.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Mitchell Loewen (70) is escorted to the locker room by a trainer during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints promoted defensive lineman Mitchell Loewen from the practice squad and put him on the active roster Monday against the Houston Texans.

His placement on the roster boosts depth on the defensive line, which will be without Sheldon Rankins (Achilles) and Mario Edwards Jr. (hamstring), who both were ruled out in the game status report Saturday.

Also, the Saints do not have David Onyemata because of a one-game league suspension.

The Saints signed Loewen to the practice squad last week after the Lions waived him. He previously spent nearly three full seasons with the Saints from 2016 to December 2018, when the Lions claimed him off waivers.

The Saints cut defensive end Wes Horton to make room for Loewen. 

Also inactive against the Texans is linebacker Craig Robertson. The Saints listed him as questionable (hamstring) on the game status report. He was a limited participant in practice all week.

Other inactive players were wideout Austin Carr, cornerback Ken Crawley, safety Saquan Hampton and offensive lineman Ethan Greenidge.