Latest news with #BrandonStaley
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Nephi Sewell is the Saints Player of Day 45
Sewell could be a dark horse to contribute in Brandon Staley's defense The New Orleans Saints have a 45-day wait until the 2025 regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. New coach Kellen Moore will lead the hopeful improvement from last year's 5-12 record. One of the team's returning players is linebacker Nephi Sewell, who currently wears No. 45 for the team. He is our Saints Player of the Day. The Sewells have a strong professional football bloodline, with Nephi's brothers Penei and Noah currently in the NFL. His uncle, Kingsley Suamataia is also in the league, with former NFL players Isaac Sopoaga and Richard Brown also uncles. An American Samoan, Nephi had a standout high school career at Desert Hills despite suffering a broken neck as a junior. He initially attended the University of Nevada as a safety in 2017, rolling up 111 total tackles and 2 interceptions in two years with the Wolf Pack. Sewell would transfer to Utah in 2019, where he converted from safety to linebacker. He played only three contests in 2019, with Covid limiting the Utes to five outings in 2020. Sewell worked his way into Utah's starting lineup in 2021, finishing second on the team in tackles on his way to All-Pac-12 recognition. Undrafted in 2022, Sewell was signed by the Saints. He spent most of his rookie year on the practice squad, but did appear in four games on special teams. The following year, Sewell played in 16 of 17 games. Again, most of his reps were on special teams, but he did see some light defensive action. An injury forced Sewell to begin 2024 on the Physically Unable to Perform list. However, he'd suit up in the final seven games of the season. He'd play a career-best 58 defensive snaps and had 2 tackles for loss along with his first career sack. Nephi Sewell will have a fight on his hands this offseason for a roster spot. The Saints brought in more competition at linebacker behind starters Demario Davis and Pete Werner, along with new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Sewell's experience as a collegiate safety may give him an advantage in coverage packages. He had 5 interceptions in college and moves well in open space, making him a player to watch in Staley's new system.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints add veterans in defensive end Jonathan Bullard and safety Julian Blackmon as camp opens
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have reached one-year contact agreements with defensive end Jonathan Bullard and safety Julian Blackmon. The club announced the pair of free agent deals on Wednesday evening, following the first practice of its 2025 training camp. Both players are joining a Saints defense that is changing systems under new coordinator Brandon Staley in what is also the club's first season under rookie coach Kellen Moore. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Bullard is a nine-year NFL veteran who played in college for Florida before Chicago selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent his first three seasons with the Bears before one year stints with Arizona (2019), Seattle (2020) and Atlanta (2021), followed by three seasons with Minnesota (2022-24). Bullard started all 17 games for the Vikings last season, finishing with 41 solo or assisted tackles, one sack and three quarterback hits. He also set career-highs with seven tackles for loss and three pass breakups. He has started 53 of 116 career games, recording 221 solo or assisted tackles, 6 1/2 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The signing of the 6-foot, 202-pound Blackmon came one day after Saints safety and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu unexpectedly announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons. Blackmon has played all five of his NFL seasons with Indianapolis since the Colts made him a third-round draft choice out of Utah in 2020. He has started 62 of 66 games and has 10 career interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also has 293 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 21 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. ___ AP NFL: The Associated Press
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Saints add veterans in defensive end Jonathan Bullard and safety Julian Blackmon as camp opens
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have reached one-year contact agreements with defensive end Jonathan Bullard and safety Julian Blackmon. The club announced the pair of free agent deals on Wednesday evening, following the first practice of its 2025 training camp. Both players are joining a Saints defense that is changing systems under new coordinator Brandon Staley in what is also the club's first season under rookie coach Kellen Moore. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Bullard is a nine-year NFL veteran who played in college for Florida before Chicago selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent his first three seasons with the Bears before one year stints with Arizona (2019), Seattle (2020) and Atlanta (2021), followed by three seasons with Minnesota (2022-24). Bullard started all 17 games for the Vikings last season, finishing with 41 solo or assisted tackles, one sack and three quarterback hits. He also set career-highs with seven tackles for loss and three pass breakups. He has started 53 of 116 career games, recording 221 solo or assisted tackles, 6 1/2 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The signing of the 6-foot, 202-pound Blackmon came one day after Saints safety and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu unexpectedly announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons. Blackmon has played all five of his NFL seasons with Indianapolis since the Colts made him a third-round draft choice out of Utah in 2020. He has started 62 of 66 games and has 10 career interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also has 293 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 21 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. ___ AP NFL:
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Saints add veterans in defensive end Jonathan Bullard and safety Julian Blackmon as camp opens
METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints have reached one-year contact agreements with defensive end Jonathan Bullard and safety Julian Blackmon. The club announced the pair of free agent deals on Wednesday evening, following the first practice of its 2025 training camp. Both players are joining a Saints defense that is changing systems under new coordinator Brandon Staley in what is also the club's first season under rookie coach Kellen Moore.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints add veterans in defensive end Jonathan Bullard and safety Julian Blackmon as camp opens
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have reached one-year contact agreements with defensive end Jonathan Bullard and safety Julian Blackmon. The club announced the pair of free agent deals on Wednesday evening, following the first practice of its 2025 training camp. Both players are joining a Saints defense that is changing systems under new coordinator Brandon Staley in what is also the club's first season under rookie coach Kellen Moore. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Bullard is a nine-year NFL veteran who played in college for Florida before Chicago selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent his first three seasons with the Bears before one year stints with Arizona (2019), Seattle (2020) and Atlanta (2021), followed by three seasons with Minnesota (2022-24). Bullard started all 17 games for the Vikings last season, finishing with 41 solo or assisted tackles, one sack and three quarterback hits. He also set career-highs with seven tackles for loss and three pass breakups. He has started 53 of 116 career games, recording 221 solo or assisted tackles, 6 1/2 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The signing of the 6-foot, 202-pound Blackmon came one day after Saints safety and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu unexpectedly announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons. Blackmon has played all five of his NFL seasons with Indianapolis since the Colts made him a third-round draft choice out of Utah in 2020. He has started 62 of 66 games and has 10 career interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also has 293 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 21 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. ___ AP NFL:
