Behind the Black and Gold for Sunday, Aug. 11

Get the most updated information about the team plus behind-the-scenes happenings

Aug 11, 2019 at 08:07 AM

TODAY: The New Orleans Saints will take to the outdoor practice fields at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center at 9:50 a.m. Sunday after holding a light practice indoors Saturday afternoon.

CONGRATS: Saturday night, former Saints linebacker Pat Swilling was inducted into the Allstate Sugar Bowl's Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame. A third round draft pick of the Saints in 1986 out of Georgia Tech, Swilling recorded 76.5 sacks in seven seasons in New Orleans, ranked third in club record books. In 1991, in leading New Orleans to its first division title in franchise history, Swilling had 17 sacks to earn Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. Swilling is also a member of the Saints Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

NFL NETWORK RE-BROADCASTS: In addition to their live broadcasts Saints preseason television broadcasts will be re-broadcast on the NFL Network.The re-broadcasts include the three preseason games to be broadcast live on the Gray Communications regional network (WVUE-Fox-8 locally) with the new broadcast team of Joel Meyers (play-by-play), former Saints tackle Jon Stinchcomb and linebacker Jonathan Vilma (color analysts) and Meghan Payton (sideline). Friday's opener vs. the Minnesota Vikings, which aired live on the Gray Communications network will be rebroadcast on the NFL Network on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. The Aug. 18, 3 p.m. CT contest at the Los Angeles Chargers, which will be televised live nationally on CBS (WWL-4 locally) will be rebroadcast that evening on the NFL Network at 11 p.m. and then on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 11 p.m. The Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m. CT contest at the New York Jets, which will air live on the Gray Communications network, will be rebroadcast on the NFL Network on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 9 a.m. and on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 3 p.m. The Aug. 29, 7 p.m. CT preseason finale contest vs. the Miami Dolphins, which will air live on the Gray Communications network, will be rebroadcast on the NFL Network on Friday, Aug. 30 at 9 a.m.

LIGHT UP THE DOME: The Saints have introduced a new feature on the team's Mobile App called "Light up the Dome," presented by SeatGeek, an interactive fan-engagement tool that enhances the gameday atmosphere during introduction video and player introductions. Fans with the most up to date version of the Saints Mobile App, who grand permission for it to use their microphone will be allowed to activate their mobile device during introductions and participate in a synchronized light show produced by the fans themselves.

ROSTER MOVES: On Saturday, the team placed tackle Ulrick John on Injured Reserve, terminated contract/left squad wide receiver Rishard Matthews and waived tight end Jake Powell. The roster now stands at 87 players and Head Coach Sean Payton said to expect additions this week to get the roster back to 90 to further evaluate in the final three weeks of the preseason with the cutdown to 53 players looming on Aug. 31.

GO WEST: Following an off day on Tuesday, the Saints will depart for Southern California on Wednesday and on Thursday and Friday will take part in joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Saints and Chargers will then face off on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT in a nationally televised contest on CBS (WWL-4 locally) in a matchup between two 2018 playoff participants."

STAT OF THE DAY: Saints rookie wide receiver/return specialist Deonte Harris comes to New Orleans with quite the resume in the return game from Assumption College in Worcester, Mass. Harris' 14 combined kickoff/punt returns during his college career is an NCAA record. He had an impressive debut Friday night.

MONDAY: The Saints will return to action on Monday, with a practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center which will be open to the public with a 9:50 start in the outdoor fields.