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METAIRIE, Louisiana – Dez Bryant must prepare for the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, confirmed a source to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The NFL network first announced that the saints were to audition the former star of the Dallas Cowboys with veteran receivers Brandon Marshall and Kamar Aiken.
It is unclear whether the Saints plan to sign one of the receivers or they just update their "ready list" to the station when needed, which is a common practice for teams of the NFL.
Whatever the case may be, the Saints (7-1) could certainly use more production from their catcher position behind Pro Bowler Michael Thomas and his 70 catches for 880 yards and five touchdowns.
Even though they have won seven straight games and rank second in the NFL with 34.9 points per game, the Saints are surprisingly lean with respect to the receiver. Veteran Ted Ginn Jr. was placed on reserve after suffering a knee injury last month. And Cameron Meredith, the free agent, who has just signed, has not achieved the expected result so far, no goal has been achieved in the last three games.
All that remains is Thomas and Tre Quan Smith, a third-round pick among the rookies, as the only receivers in good health with double-digit receptions this year (Smith has 12 for 214 yards and three touchdowns) . Alvin Kamara (51 catches) and striker Benjamin Watson (26 catches) are ranked second and third in the Saints respectively.
Bryant, 30, has remained on the open market since being released by Dallas last April, while he was expected to receive $ 12.5 million. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound player was among the best in the NFL at its peak. He has recorded three consecutive seasons of at least 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns from 2012 to 2014 and was invited to the Pro Bowl in 2013, 2014 and 2016.
But his production had diminished in recent years as he struggled with foot and knee injuries – and the Cowboys were finally ready to pass from what Executive Vice President Stephen Jones described as an "inflamed" personality that could sometimes be a distraction".
Bryant has amassed only 69 catches for 838 yards and six touchdowns last season in 16 games.
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