We’ve got a couple of last-minute roster moves for the New Orleans Saints going into Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers. On Saturday, the Saints announced that wide receiver Dante Pettis and offensive lineman William Sherman have been elevated from the practice squad. Additionally, offensive tackle Barry Wesley was ruled out. He’s working his way back from injured reserve and has two more weeks practice before being activated.
Pettis coming up was expected when head coach Kellen Moore told reporters on Friday that he won a competition this week to become the primary punt returner. His skills in the return game are what brought Pettis to the Saints’ radar in the first place last year, when he averaged 12.9 yards per attempt on seven tries. He also clocked 32.0 yards per try on kick returns, though he got just three tries.
Sherman got snaps at both guard spots and center during the preseason with the Denver Broncos, but we don’t know where the Saints plan on lining him up since he was added late in the summer. He figures to dress out as a depth option with Taliese Fuaga on the mend and both Trevor Penning and Erik McCoy out of action. The New Orleans offensive line doesn’t look much like what the team hoped to trot out in Week 1.