A flurry of injury news swept through the NFL on Tuesday. Two Broncos players, including wideout Tim Patrick, Suffered season-ending knee injuries. Moments after the news broke, it was reported that Saints rookie safety Smoke suffered a significant knee injury on Monday. According to NFL Network.
While he went undrafted, Monday was expected to not only make the Saints’ regular-season roster, but he looked determined to make an immediate impact after drawing rave reviews from veteran safety Tyrann Mathieu.
“Smoak is going to be a good player in this league,” Matthew said during spring practice. “He’s a physical player. He’s got great length and size. The kid reads a lot. I think that’s a plus.”
The 6-foot-3 defensive back enjoyed a solid college career at Auburn. A second-team All-SEC player in 2020 tied the school record Monday by recording his third career pick-six during the 2021 season. Known for his hard-hitting style of play, Peer racked up 172 tackles, five interceptions and 13 passes defensed during his time with the Tigers.
If Monday is to miss a significant chunk of time, look for the Saints to bring in another free safety during training camp. The Saints’ current depth chart at the position includes Matthews and JT Gray, who has been a mainstay on special teams since joining New Orleans in 2018.