Saints cut 8, waive 26 players as rosters are cut to 53

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The New Orleans Saints cut eight players and waived 26 others on “cut down day,” as they trimmed their roster down to 53.

Most notably terminated were cornerback and 10-year veteran Bradley Roby, and former second-round pick Jaylon Smith.

Name	Position	Height	Weight	Age	Exp.	College
Ryan Connelly	LB	6-2	234	27	4	Wisconsin
J.P. Holtz	TE	6-3	255	30	5	Pittsburgh
Jesse James	TE	6-7	261	29	9	Penn State
Storm Norton	T	6-7	317	29	4	Toledo
Bradley Roby	CB	5-11	194	31	10	Ohio State
Jaylon Smith	LB	6-2	240	28	7	Notre Dame
Ty Summers	LB	6-1	241	27	5	TCU
Darrel Williams	RB	5-11	224	28	6	LSU

Goodluck to my brothers and the Saints fans y’all deserve to be winners ! #WhoDat ⚜️
— Bradley Roby (@BradRoby_1) August 29, 2023

The Saints waived 26 players, including punter Blake Gillikin and former LSU wide receiver Jontre Kirklin. Undrafted free agent punter Lou Hedley, 30, will become the second rookie kicker taking over on special teams after the Denver Broncos traded for kicker Wil Lutz. Hedley is the second punter signed to the Saints since the team released Thomas Morstead before the 2021 season.

Hedley punted for Miami from 2019-2022 after transferring from City College of San Francisco. He is a former Australian rules football player.

Name	Position	Height	Weight	Age	Exp.	College
Johnathan Abram	S	6-0	205	26	5	Mississippi State
Nick Anderson	LB	5-11	230	23	R	Tulane
Kawaan Baker	WR	6-1	215	25	1	South Alabama
Jake Bargas	FB	6-2	250	26	1	North Carolina
Lynn Bowden Jr.	WR	6-1	204	25	3	Kentucky
Jerron Cage	DL	6-2	305	24	R	Ohio State
Shaq Davis	WR	6-5	215	23	R	South Carolina State
Prince Emili	DT	6-2	300	24	1	Pennsylvania
Mark Evans II	OL	6-4	295	23	R	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Chuck Filiaga	G	6-6	321	25	R	Minnesota
Adrian Frye	DB	6-0	205	24	R	Texas Tech
Blake Gillikin	P	6-2	196	25	3	Penn State
Jack Heflin	DT	6-3	304	25	2	Iowa
Anthony Johnson	DB	6-2	205	24	R	Virginia
Lewis Kidd	OL	6-6	311	25	2	Montana State
Jontrae Kirklin	WR	6-0	184	24	1	LSU
Tommy Kraemer	G	6-6	316	25	3	Notre Dame
Lucas Krull	TE	6-6	260	24	1	Pittsburgh
Niko Lalos	DE	6-5	270	26	2	Dartmouth
Ellis Merriweather	RB	6-2	225	24	R	Massachusetts
Smoke Monday	S	6-3	199	23	2	Auburn
Anfernee Orji	LB	6-2	230	22	R	Vanderbilt
Kyle Phillips	DE	6-4	277	26	4	Tennessee
Alex Pihlstrom	OL	6-6	305	23	R	Illinois
Troy Pride	DB	5-11	193	25	3	Notre Dame
Calvin Throckmorton	OL	6-5	309	27	3	Oregon

Beginning Wednesday, the Saints may establish a practice squad of up to 16 players. The Saints will open the regular season Sunday, September 10 when they play at the Tennessee Titans at 12:00 p.m. CT at the Caesars Superdome.

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