Saints' Bub Means: Suffers setback to ankle injury
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Means recently suffered a setback in his recovery from a Week 8 ankle injury and is not expected to return this season, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
The Saints haven't made the official designation, and Means technically still has one more week to return until his 21-day activation window expires, but interim head coach Darren Rizzi's comments seem to indicate the rookie won't play the rest of the year. The rookie fifth-round pick emerged as a rotational option after injuries decimated New Orleans' wide receiver depth earlier in the year, and Means could profile as a depth piece for the team entering 2025.
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Saints' Bub Means: Remains sidelined Friday
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Means (ankle) remained sidelined for Friday's practice, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Means hasn't played since Week 8 and was designated for return from injured reserve on Dec. 4, so the Saints have less than seven days before they need to make a decision on whether or not to activate the rookie wideout. The Saints go on the road for a Monday night matchup with the Packers this week.
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Saints' Bub Means: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Means (ankle) was listed as a DNP on Thursday's injury report.
Means was designated to return from injured reserve Dec. 4, but he has either been a DNP or limited practice participant since. The rookie fifth-round pick would have to log multiple full practices in order to be activated off IR, and it doesn't appear likely that he'll be able to play against the Packers on Monday.
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Saints' Bub Means: Misses practice Thursday
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Means (ankle) did not participate in practice Thursday, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
The wide receiver was downgraded after participating on a limited basis in Wednesday's session. Means remains on injured reserve and in the midst of his 21-day practice window to return to the active roster. His absence Thursday seems to suggest that he may not be available for Sunday's matchup with the Commanders.
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Saints' Bub Means: Limited in practice
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Means (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Means is in the midst of his second week of practice since the Saints opened his 21-day evaluation window Dec. 4. The rookie wideout hasn't played since Week 8 with an ankle sprain, but if he's able to upgrade to full participation in practice by Friday, he could have a decent chance at getting cleared to suit up this Sunday against the Commanders. Through his first seven NFL games, Means produced a 9-118-1 receiving line on 15 targets.
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Saints' Bub Means: Sits out practice Thursday
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Means (ankle) was a non-participant in Thursday's practice.
Means was designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday and was a limited participant in his first practice since Week 8. While his downgrade to no activity Thursday could be more of a maintenance day rather than indicative of a setback, Means may not be on track to play Sunday against the Giants in any case. The Saints will hold their final Week 14 practice Friday and will then have until Saturday at 4 p.m. ET to activate Means from IR if they want to have him available for Sunday's contest.
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Saints' Bub Means: Returns to practice
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Means (ankle) was designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday and returned to practice as a limited participant, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
The transaction opens a 21-day window in which Means can practice without being placed on the active roster. He may have a large role once he's deemed healthy, having stepped in as a starter prior to suffering a high-ankle sprain Week 8. Rashid Shaheed suffered a season-ending knee injury around the same time, and Chris Olave later landed on injured reserve with a concussion. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kevin Austin have taken most of the snaps at receiver for New Orleans in recent weeks.
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Saints' Bub Means: Heads to injured reserve
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The Saints placed Means (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday.
Getting diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain typically equates to a multi-game absence, and the Saints have made it official for Means, ruling him out for the next four contests. He'll be first eligible to return Sunday, Dec. 8 at the Giants, but for the time being he'll join fellow WR Rashid Shaheed (knee) on injured reserve.
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Saints' Bub Means: Sits out Wednesday
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Means (ankle) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice.
Means' absence doesn't come as a surprise after he was removed from this past Sunday's loss to the Chargers with a high-ankle sprain, which typically results in a multi-game absence. The rookie wideout's status will likely receive clarity by week's end, and there's also the prospect of fellow receiver Cedrick Wilson -- who didn't practice Wednesday -- missing time due to a hip injury. Currently, Chris Olave, Mason Tipton, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jermaine Johnson are the healthy options at the position on the Saints' active roster.
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Saints' Bub Means: Three catches in loss
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Means secured three of five targets for 37 yards in the Saints' 33-10 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night.
Means found himself in an expanded role with Chris Olave (concussion), Rashid Shaheed (knee) and Taysom Hill (ribs) all sidelined, and he finished tied for second in receptions and fourth in receiving yards. The rookie fifth-round pick went without a catch for the first four games of his career, but he's now generated an 8-82-1 line on 13 targets over the last pair of contests. Means could be in for extra opportunity again in a Week 8 road matchup against the Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 27 with Shaheed now ruled out for the season.
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Saints' Bub Means: Plays six snaps Sunday
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Means compiled zero receptions (on one target) for zero yards during Sunday's 47-10 victory over the Panthers.
Means got onto the field late in the fourth quarter, finishing with the fewest offensive snaps of the five wide receivers who played for the Saints on Sunday. The rookie out of Pittsburgh didn't show up on the offensive stat sheet outside of one target, and his only other notable moment came when he drew an offensive holding penalty on the opening kickoff return. Second-year wideout A.T. Perry was also inactive with a hand injury Week 1. When this wide receiver corps is fully healthy, it's likely that Means will be spending the vast majority of games on the sideline this season. He could see fringe playing time if Perry remains out for next Sunday's road game at Dallas.
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Saints' Bub Means: Resumes practicing in full
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Means (undisclosed) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Means and Rashid Shaheed (hamstring) both shed their non-contact jerseys and practiced in full Wednesday. A rookie fifth-round pick, Means is competing for a depth role on New Orleans' final roster, so he'll work to make a splash during Sunday's preseason game against the 49ers.
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Saints' Bub Means: Participates in practice Tuesday
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Means (undisclosed) donned a red non-contact jersey during Tuesday's practice session, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Means is dealing with an unspecified injury that held him out of Saturday's preseason contest against Arizona. The rookie fifth-rounder is battling for a depth spot at wide receiver, and his availability for the last two preseason games would play a big role in whether he makes the Saints' 53-man roster at the end of training camp.
