Saints Release Tre'Quan Smith, Two Players

The Saints part ways with a veteran wideout and add a quarterback.

The New Orleans Saints have released WR Tre'Quan Smith from injured reserve on Tuesday. Smith will now be a free agent. The Saints have also announced that they are signing QB Jake Luton from the Carolina Panthers practice squad onto their 53-man active roster, as reported by NFL Insider Field Yates. 

New Orleans also released RB Kirk Merritt from their practice squad on Tuesday. Offensive tackle Storm Norton was poached from the team’s practice squad and signed to the active roster of the Atlanta Falcons.

Smith, 27, was placed on injured reserve before the start of the regular season with a hamstring injury. He would have been eligible to return after Week 4, but is now immediately free to sign with another team.

A third-round choice by the Saints out of Central Florida in the 2018 NFL Draft, Smith was the last player of that year's draft still on the team. In five years with New Orleans, he had 131 receptions for 1,764 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Despite multiple opportunities, Smith was never able to be a productive number two or number three wideout for an offense desperate for weapons. At 6'2" and 210-Lbs., he possessed prototypical size and good deep speed, but was never able to consistently separate or stay healthy. 

The two highlights of Smith's career both occurred as a rookie in 2018. He caught three passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns against the Washington Redskins. In that Monday night win, Smith caught a 62-yard scoring pass from Drew Brees that made Brees the top career passing yardage leader in NFL history. Later that year, Smith had 10 catches for 157 yards and a score in a rout of the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. 

Oct 8, 2018; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) runs for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins. Quarterback Drew Brees (not pictured) set the all time NFL passing yardage mark on this play. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Luton, 27, played collegiately at Oregon State and has spent time as a backup or practice squad player for the Jaguars, Seahawks, Dolphins, Saints, and Panthers. He finished the 2022 season on the New Orleans practice squad. 

Luton's addition is added quarterback insurance for the Saints, who lost QB Derek Carr with a sprain to the AC joint in his throwing shoulder last Sunday. Jameis Winston is expected to get the start if Carr can't go. Taysom Hill will likely be the backup, with Luton serving as emergency QB because of a suspension to rookie Jake Haener.