Saints' Carl Granderson: Logs career highs in 2023
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Granderson finished the 2023 regular season with a career-high 78 tackles and a career-high 8.5 sacks across 17 games.
Granderson showed promise as an edge rusher over the first four seasons of his career, totaling 14.5 sacks while playing a rotational role across 54 appearances. New Orleans locked in the 2019 undrafted free agent with a four-year, $52 million contract in September. In return, he rewarded the Saints with a team high in sacks as well as the team's third-most tackles behind inside linebackers Pete Werner and Demario Davis. With 34-year-old defensive end and franchise stalwart Cameron Jordan's production and availability slipping over each of the past three seasons, Granderson appears poised to play a vital role at pass rusher once again in 2024.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Productive night in loss
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Granderson recorded eight tackles (three solo) and a sack in the Saints' 30-22 defeat to the Rams on Thursday.
The defensive end also played on 79 percent of the defensive snaps. Granderson has 73 tackles, including 8.5 sacks, a pass defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2023.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Will suit up at Rams
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Granderson (shoulder) does not carry an injury designation into Thursday's game at the Rams, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
The Saints did not practice Monday, and Granderson was estimated to be limited at Tuesday's walk-through practice, but he was listed as a full participant for Wednesday's walk-through, removing any doubt that he'll play in Week 16. He'll resume his role as the Saints' top pass rusher Thursday.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Paces team in tackles Week 12
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Granderson finished Sunday's loss to Atlanta with 10 tackles (four solo).
Granderson's 10 stops led New Orleans and marked his first double-digit tackle performance of the campaign. In fact, prior to Sunday, the veteran defensive end hadn't tallied more than six stops in any contest. Granderson's big performance against the Falcons pushed him to 54 tackles on the season, establishing a new career-high mark.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Notches eighth TFL in loss
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Granderson had six tackles (five solo), including one tackle for loss, in Thursday's 31-24 loss to the Jaguars. He also recovered a fumble.
Granderson stayed home on a double reverse and brought down Jamal Agnew for a one-yard loss in the fourth quarter. It was Granderson's eighth TFL through seven games, putting him just one shy of his career high from last season. He remains at 4.5 sacks, also one back of last year's career best.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Big day in Week 1
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Granderson recorded four tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in Sunday's 16-15 win versus Tennessee.
In a Week 1 game that quickly turned into a defensive slugfest, Granderson emerged as one of the game's most valuable players Sunday, creating pressures even on the plays where he wasn't taking down Ryan Tannehill behind the line of scrimmage. He'll look to build on his impressive 2023 debut at Carolina on Monday, where he'll line up across from Ikem Ekwonu.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Emerges down the stretch
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Granderson tallied career highs with 53 tackles (30 solo) and 5.5 sacks while playing 16 games during the 2022 regular season.
Granderson doubled his previous career high for tackles while also finishing with the Saints' fourth-most sacks this season. The 2019 undrafted free agent stepped up into a bigger role over the second half of the season, starting each of the final three games. Conversely, previous starting defensive end Marcus Davenport saw his opportunities consistently dwindle after he returned from a calf injury Week 12. With Davenport set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, it's possible Granderson could be in line for a similarly increased role heading into the 2023 campaign.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Plays most snaps of career in win
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Granderson recorded six tackles (five solo) and one sack in Saturday's 17-10 win over the Browns.
While Granderson was on the field for a career-high 50 snaps this past weekend in Cleveland, he was able to collect his fourth sack of the 2022-23 campaign. He's now amassed at least four stops in five out of New Orleans' last six contests, and he'll look to keep momentum pointed north when the Saints square off against the Eagles in Week 17.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Will not return
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Granderson (eye) will not return Sunday against the Vikings, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Granderson left in the second quarter with the injury and headed to the locker room. He did not record any stats before departing. In his absence, Payton Turner and Tanoh Kpassagnon will likely see extra opportunity.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Back in action
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Granderson (illness) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.
Granderson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Dec. 25 after testing positive for the virus. As a result, he was forced to miss Monday's game against the Dolphins, however he is now in line to return for the Saints' Week 17 matchup against Carolina. Granderson should serve as a rotational defensive lineman, and he has two sacks across his last four games.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Added to COVID list
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Granderson (illness) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive Saturday, Amie Just of NOLA.com reports.
Granderson has played a consistent role as a rotational player on the Saints' defensive line this season, only missing Week 9 against the Falcons with a shoulder injury. The third-year pro will likely cede work to Albert Huggins on Monday against the Dolphins.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Back from shoulder injury
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Granderson (shoulder) will return to action Week 10 against Tennessee, Amie Just of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Granderson missed a Week 9 matchup against the Falcons but had previously been active in each of New Orleans' first seven games. While largely working in a backup capacity, Granderson hasn't had a multi-tackle game since Week 2.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Second sack of season
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Granderson finished with one solo tackle and a sack in the Saints' 21-16 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
Granderson recorded his first sack since Week 1, though his two on the season are a new career high for the second-year man. He's been largely absent from the box score this season, and Granderson isn't an IDP option for fantasy purposes.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Back on active roster
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Granderson is back on the Saints' 53-man roster after his roster exemption was lifted Monday, Rod Walker of Nola.com reports.
As part of the exemption, the Saints had a two-week window to decide whether to keep Granderson on the roster. The 22-year-old was able to attend meetings and participate in practice during that period. Granderson will take the roster spot that was left vacant after the team placed linebacker Alex Anzalone (undisclosed) on injured reserve.
