NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints launched cornerback Janoris Jenkins in yet another lineup to help the club stay below the NFL’s $ 182.5 million salary cap for the 2021 season this season.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis announced the release of Jenkins on Thursday, the day after New Orleans informed receiver Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker Kwon Alexander that they would be cut.
Jenkins started all 13 games in which he played in 2020, drawing for the team on a high with three interceptions. He made 54 solo or assisted tackles and was credited with 12 defending passes.
Cutting Jenkins will lower New Orleans’ wage cap by about $ 7 million. The Saints still needed to eliminate about $ 25 million in payroll by the start of the league’s new year on Wednesday.
Jenkins, who started and played 53 games for the Giants between 2016-19, had 12 interceptions and two touchdowns during his time with Big Blue. He has 26 interceptions and eight touchdowns in his career.
He also played four seasons with the Rams when they were in St. Louis.
These latest Saints cuts are the latest among more than a handful of prominent veterans to be launched, including tight ends Jared Cook and Josh Hill, and gambler Thomas Morstead.
The Saints also have not yet hired defensive side services Trey Hendrickson, the club’s leader in 2020, who will become a free agent next week.