The New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers just pulled off a Sunday swap, shaking up depth charts right as the final week of the NFL preseason gets going. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Saints are shipping linebacker Deion Jones to the Niners, with running back Zamir White heading to New Orleans. This isn’t just a random exchange; for the Saints, it’s a direct response to a real issue brewing in their backfield.
A New Look For the Niners’ Defense
On the 49ers side, they’re grabbing Deion Jones, who’s probably best known for his time tearing it up as an Atlanta Falcon. This move means Jones gets to reunite with Raheem Morris, who’s now the Niners’ defensive coordinator. Morris stepped into that role after Robert Saleh bounced this offseason to become the Tennessee Titans head coach. For San Francisco, this looks like a solid depth piece addition, bringing in a familiar face for their DC and shoring up their linebacker room as they head into the final push of preseason camp.
The Saints’ Running Back Room Is Getting Wild
Now, let’s talk about why the Saints made this move, because it’s all about their running back situation. Alvin Kamara is dealing with a knee injury, and with the regular season drawing near, that’s a massive red flag. Zamir White, coming over from the Las Vegas Raiders where he was primarily a backup for the last four seasons, is stepping in as “added insurance.” Travis Etienne Jr. was signed in free agency to be the lead back for New Orleans, and that’s not changing. Kamara is still expected to split time with Etienne once he’s healthy, with Kendre Miller serving as added depth. But here’s the kicker: Devin Neal, another back, just got hit with a hamstring injury during their preseason loss to the Rams on August 22. That left their backfield depth super thin for the rest of preseason. White’s arrival is clearly a way for the Saints to just make it through the remainder of training camp. But honestly, if these other backs can’t get healthy in time, White could absolutely snag a spot on the 53-man roster. Talk about high stakes for a preseason trade, right?
The clock is ticking for these teams with the final week of preseason upon us. For the Saints, all eyes will be on how White performs and, more importantly, how quickly Kamara and Neal can get back on the field. This trade isn’t just a paper transaction; it’s a desperate scramble for healthy bodies as they try to finalize their roster before things get real.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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