89 Josh Hill TE

The Saints' addition of tight end Jared Cook nudged Hill (concussion) down the depth chart.

In the wake of Ben Watson's (appendix) retirement, Hill was left as New Orleans' top incumbent tight end as the offseason kicked off, but free agency brought another veteran into the fold. Cook is coming off a career year in which he reeled in 68 of his 101 targets for 896 yards and six touchdowns in the Raiders' 23rd-ranked offense. Working with Drew Brees increases Cook's profile further, but also places a cap on Hill's relevance. Expect Hill to settle into a modest role, per usual, which has yet to yield a 200-yard campaign in six pro seasons.

Hill (concussion) could be in play for the starting tight end spot entering the 2019 season, Josh Katzenstein of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

This shouldn't come as much of a surprise given Benjamin Watson (appendicitis) has openly contemplated retiring following the team's NFC Championship loss to the Rams. Without a first-round pick this season as a result of a draft-day trade last year with the Packers, it seems likely the Saints will opt to use what remaining draft capital it has on improving other areas of need. The emergence of Dan Arnold and Garrett Griffin as potential depth options certainly will dissuade the Saints from investing premium resources on another tight end, but it's worth pointing out that despite playing the most offensive snaps of his six-year career, Hill only managed to record 16 receptions, 185 yards and a touchdown. Those figures would rise should he lock down a starting role, but it's difficult to project a substantial jump in production even with the No. 1 role all too himself as the Saints have been diligent about spreading the ball around to a variety of different targets in recent years.

Hill won't return to Sunday's NFC Championship Game versus the Rams due to a concussion, Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate reports.

The diagnosis is the result of a legal hit to Hill's helmet at the conclusion of a 24-yard catch and run in the first quarter. With Hill joining Ben Watson (appendicitis) on the sideline, the Saints' tight end corps has been whittled down to Garrett Griffin and Dan Arnold.

Hill went to the locker room during Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Rams to be evaluated for a head injury, Jeff Duncan of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Hill took a legal hit to the helmet at the end of a 24-yard reception in the first quarter, looking dazed as he attempted to get to his feet. If he eventually is diagnosed with a concussion, the Saints will be down their top two tight ends with Ben Watson inactive due to appendicitis. Garrett Griffin and Dan Arnold are the team's remaining healthy options at the position.

With Ben Watson tending to appendicitis, Hill is slated to be the Saints' top tight end for Sunday's NFC Championship Game versus the Rams, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Per Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com, the Saints have ruled out Watson, who so far has avoided surgery but won't be well enough to play this weekend. Hill regularly logged more snaps on offense than Watson for much of the season, but the former may garner most, if not all, of them Sunday. Still, expect the 28-year-old Hill to yield some snaps to Garrett Griffin and possibly Dan Arnold as a means to keep the corps fresh.