Saints Announce 4 Roster Moves for Week 5 at Patriots

Saints roster moves before Sunday's game at New England includes one surprise.

The New Orleans Saints have announced four roster moves ahead of Sunday's game at the New England Patriots. 

• waived RB Tony Jones Jr.

• signed G Tommy Kraemer from the practice squad to the active roster 

• elevated S Johnathan Abram from the practice squad 

• elevated S Daniel Sorensen from the practice squad 

The release of Jones is a bit of a surprise. He'd appeared in all four games as the Saints dealt with a suspension to Alvin Kamara and injuries to RBs Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller. Jones had the team’s only two rushing scores, both against Carolina in Week 2. He had 70 rushing yards, averaging 3.3 per carry, and added four receptions for 21 yards.

Kamara returned from his suspension last week and will bear the brunt of the backfield duties. Miller will back him up, with Taysom Hill taking many of the short yardage rushing attempts. Williams is on injured reserve for at least two more games.

Kraemer's promotion to the active roster is for offensive line depth. Reserve lineman Landon Young has been ruled out with a hip injury. Guards Andrus Peat (concussion) and James Hurst (ankle) are both listed as questionable and will be game-time decisions against New England. 

Jan 1, 2023; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) is tackled by New Orleans Saints safety Daniel Sorensen (25). Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Abram and Sorensen are both standard practice squad elevations for Week 5. Starting S Marcus Maye is serving the last of his three-game NFL suspension and CB/S Lonnie Johnson has been ruled out of Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. Rookie Jordan Howden returns after missing last week and will likely start alongside Tyrann Mathieu. 

Abram has been activated from the practice squad for the third consecutive week. He started last week's loss to the Buccaneers after not seeing any defensive snaps in Week 3 at Green Bay. Sorensen was re-signed by the Saints earlier this week after playing with the team last season. A 10-year veteran that played his first eight seasons with the Chiefs, Sorensen had two interceptions and 25 tackles for New Orleans in 2022.

The fact that no cornerback was elevated for the practice squad is a good sign that CB Paulson Adebo will play. Adebo has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.