The Saints signed Kirkwood to a one-year extension Friday, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Kirkwood spent his first two NFL campaigns with the Saints before heading to Carolina. He re-joined New Orleans ahead of the 2022 regular season and bounced back and forth between the active roster and practice squad early in the campaign before landing an end-of-season contract at the beginning of January. He appeared in five games, including the Saints' last three regular-season contests, but he caught just two of four targets across 149 offensive snaps -- the most since his rookie campaign. He'll stick around the Saints organization through the 2023 campaign, but he's unlikely to garner a significant role, especially if Jarvis Landry (ankle) and Michael Thomas (toe) are healthy.
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Saints' Keith Kirkwood: Serves as depth piece in 2022
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Kirkwood accrued zero targets during Sunday's 10-7 defeat versus Carolina. He finished the 2022 season with two receptions (on four targets) for 18 yards.
Kirkwood did not record a catch for the third straight game to end the regular season. The 28-year-old spent the first two seasons of his career with New Orleans before heading to Carolina for back-to-back campaigns. Kirkwood then rejoined the Saints in early September and bounced back and forth between the active roster and practice squad this season. While he played at least 30 percent of offensive snaps in all five of his appearances, Kirkwood never carved out a consistent role in the Saints' injury-riddled receiving corps. Instead, his opportunities on offense shrunk almost to zero over the second half of the season, as rookie wideouts Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed as well as tight end Juwan Johnson buoyed the team's limited passing game. Kirkwood ended the season as a core special-teamer and blocker on offense, and he's now set to become a restricted free agent this offseason.
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Saints' Keith Kirkwood: Signed to active roster
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The Saints signed Kirkwood to their active roster Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Kirkwood was elevated for back-to-back weeks, but he failed to haul in either of his targets across 43 offensive snaps. The undrafted wideout out of Temple will land a spot on the Saints' active roster for the final game of the season after New Orleans placed Dwayne Washington on the reserve/non-football illness list Wednesday.
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Saints' Keith Kirkwood: Returns to practice squad
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Kirkwood reverted to the Saints' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Kirkwood saw 28 snaps on offense in Sunday's 20-10 win over the Eagles, but he failed to record any stats. He's now appeared in four games this season, recording two catches on four targets for 18 yards. He'll likely also have the opportunity to suit up Sunday against the Panthers.
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Saints' Keith Kirkwood: Will be active Sunday
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Kirkwood has been elevated from the Saints' practice squad to their active roster ahead of Week 17's clash against Philadelphia, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Kirkwood has gone back-and-forth between New Orleans' practice squad and active roster this season, and he has totaled two catches on four targets for 18 yards across 94 offensive snaps. He played 16 offensive snaps last week against the Browns with top wideout Chris Olave (hamstring) out of action, so Kirkwood could see similar usage if Olave misses the Week 17 contest.
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Keith Kirkwood: Reverts to practice squad
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Kirkwood reverted to New Orleans' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
With Chris Olave (hamstring) out, Kirkwood was elevated to the active roster for the first time since Week 6 and played 16 of the Saints' 54 offensive snaps, putting him behind Tre'Quan Smith (33), Marquez Callaway (26) and Rashid Shaheed (23) but ahead of Kirk Merritt (three). However, Kirkwood failed to haul in either of his targets during New Orleans' 17-10 win over Cleveland and will head back to the practice squad.
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Saints' Keith Kirkwood: Elevated for Week 16
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The Saints elevated Kirkwood on Friday from their practice squad to the active roster for Saturday's matchup against the Browns.
Kirkwood will be available for the first time since Week 6, when he caught his lone target for 14 yards across 50 offensive snaps. With Chris Olave (hamstring) out, the Saints' wideout corps will consist of Rashid Shaheed, Tre'Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, Kirk Merritt and Kirkwood.
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Keith Kirkwood: Staying in New Orleans
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The Saints re-signed Kirkwood to the practice squad Monday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.
Kirkwood has helped fill in for New Orleans' depleted receiving corps since first signing with the team's practice squad in late September. The 27-year-old caught both of his targets for 18 yards between Weeks 5 and 6, but he then battled a brief ankle injury and has spent time on and off the team's active roster over the past two weeks. Kirkwood was already elevated from the practice squad once this season, and he'll be eligible for two more such activations with the Saints moving forward.
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Keith Kirkwood: Parts ways with Saints
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New Orleans released Kirkwood Saturday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.
The Saints also released Kirkwood just over a week ago before re-signing him just five days later, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him make his way back onto the team in some capacity soon. If not though, he'll have to look for another opportunity elsewhere.
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Saints' Keith Kirkwood: Re-signs with New Orleans
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The Saints signed Kirkwood on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Kirkwood was recently let go by the team Thursday, after he battled an ankle injury prior to the Saints' Week 7 matchup against Arizona. However, the 210-pounder's issue doesn't seem to be of great concern given the team's desire to bring Kirkwood back into the mix. With both fellow receivers Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) currently considered questionable to play Sunday versus the Raiders, the 27-year-old could find himself in a rotational role if either WR is eventually sidelined for the contest.
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Keith Kirkwood: Let go with injury
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The Saints released Kirkwood (ankle) on Thursday.
Kirkwood was signed to New Orleans' active roster last Saturday before suiting up for his second game consecutive game in Sunday's loss to Cincinnati. The 27-year-old caught his lone target for 14 yards over 70 defensive snaps in the contest, but he popped up with an ankle injury on Monday's injury report and did not practice at all Week 7. Now, Kirkwood will likely look to re-sign with the Saints' practice squad if he's unable to land a spot on an active roster elsewhere.
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Saints' Keith Kirkwood: Questionable for TNF
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Kirkwood (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.
Kirkwood was sidelined during practice Monday and Tuesday, though he was a limited participant in Wednesday's sessions. The 27-year-old wideout caught his lone target for 14 yards during Sunday's loss to Cincinnati, and he could play a reserve role Thursday with starters Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) both ruled out. Otherwise, expect Rashid Shaheed to see increased usage behind Chris Olave, Marquez Callaway and Tre'Quan Smith.
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Saints' Keith Kirkwood: Logs another DNP
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Kirkwood (ankle) was a non-participant in practice Tuesday.
Kirkwood was also a DNP on Monday's practice estimate, which is putting his status for Thursday's game with the Cardinals in serious doubt. With Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) also unable to practice, the Saints could be thin at wide receiver Thursday.
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Saints' Keith Kirkwood: Added to 53-man roster
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Kirkwood was signed to the Saints' active roster Saturday, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
The Saints receiving corps could be shorthanded for a Week 6 matchup against the Bengals, as both Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (groin) have been ruled out. Kirkwood has been active for one game this season and tallied one reception, though he could have an expanded role Sunday.
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Keith Kirkwood: Joins Saints' practice squad
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Kirkwood signed with the Saints' practice squad Wednesday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Kirkwood will return to the Saints organization, where he appeared in nine games between 2018 and 2019, joining their practice unit. With Michael Thomas (toe), Jarvis Landry (foot) and Tre'Quan Smith (concussion) all banged up, it's possible that Kirkwood could be elevated to the active roster for Sunday's matchup with the Vikings in London.
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Panthers' Keith Kirkwood: Re-signs with Carolina
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Kirkwood landed a contract with the Panthers on Monday, according to the team's official site.
The 27-year-old wideout from Temple will spend his third straight season in Carolina. Over the last two years, he's recorded four receptions for 30 yards on nine targets. He'll likely need to catch a break to make the 53-man roster after the Panthers signed Rashard Higgins, who's been more productive, and Andre Roberts, who provides more utility on special teams, in free agency.
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Keith Kirkwood: Returns to practice squad
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Kirkwood reverted to the Panthers' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Kirkwood was active for third time this season in Week 18, as he filled in for Shi Smith (illness) and Terrace Marshall (foot). He did not record a reception but was targeted once on 10 offensive snaps. Kirkwood ends the campaign with three receptions for 17 yards, his best totals since his rookie season in 2018.
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Panthers' Keith Kirkwood: Elevated for finale
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Kirkwood was elevated from the Panthers' practice squad Saturday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Kirkwood hasn't been active since Week 8, but with Shi Smith (illness) likely sidelined and Robby Anderson (quadriceps) questionable, the team is in need of depth at wide receiver. Even with those potential absences, Kirkwood is likely to work behind at least DJ Moore and Brandon Zylstra.
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Keith Kirkwood: Sent back to practice squad
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Kirkwood reverted to the Panthers' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Kirkwood was called upon with Terrace Marshall (concussion) unable to play Sunday against the Falcons. Kirkwood played 47 percent of the Panthers' offensive snaps, filing in behind only DJ Moore and Robby Anderson at wide receiver. Despite the abundance of snaps, Kirkwood only had one target, which he was unable to corral. If Marshall can't go Week 9 against the Giants, Kirkwood will hope to be elevated to the active roster again.
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Keith Kirkwood: Waived by Carolina
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The Panthers waived Kirkwood on Tuesday, Darin Gantt of Panthers.com reports.
Kirkwood suffered a severe concussion during a training-camp practice, causing him to be taken off the field on a stretcher and immediately sent to the hospital. The move was made without an injury designation, so it appears that he has fully healed from the incident. Kirkwood caught one of two targets for 13 yards during his lone regular-season appearance in 2020 and will likely land on a practice squad during the 2021 campaign.
