Chris

Hogan

Hogan had initially planned to retire over the summer but decided to give it one more go with the Saints. A pure wind sprinter at this stage of his career, the 33-year-old could not crack the Saints’ receiver rotation despite New Orleans having as little proven wideout talent as any team in the league. Hogan hangs up his cleats as a 10-year veteran who caught 220 career balls, peaking with 38/680/4 with the Patriots in 2016. Famously a lacrosse player, Hogan has long been expected to pursue a career in his second sport when he gives up football.

Hogan was released at final cuts with the expectation he’d re-sign. The veteran slot receiver adds depth as the Saints wait for Michael Thomas (ankle, reserve/PUP) to return from injury. The Saints also re-signed QB Trevor Siemian to the active roster.

Hogan was brought in for wide receiver depth in July, but was ultimately unable to earn a roster spot. It’s possible he lands on a roster this season if a team is hit with injuries. The Saints also waived/released RB Alex Armah, T Caleb Benenoch, RB Devonta Freeman, T Jordan Mills, DB KeiVarae Russell, QB Trevor Siemian, DL Damion Square, G JR Sweezy, WR Kevin White, WR Kawaan Baker, DT Josiah Bronson, S Eric Burrell, DB Grant Haley, DL Albert Huggins, DB Natrell Jamerson, T Derrick Kelly, DL RJ McIntosh, LB Wyton McManis, CB Bryan Mills, C Christian Montano, LB Shaq Smith, DB Deuce Wallace, WR Easop Winston and TE Ethan Wolf.

Currently a lacrosse player, Hogan caught 14 passes in five appearances for a similarly-undermanned Jets receiver corps in 2020. Headed into his age-34 campaign, Hogan has just 22 catches since the end of the 2018 season. Even with the Saints’ receiver corps in dire straits as it waits for Michael Thomas to return from ankle surgery, Hogan would be more of a “dirty work” addition than someone actually expected to catch passes. That’s if he even makes the 53-man roster, of course. There are no fantasy ripples here.

The Saints are doing their due diligence with Michael Thomas expected to miss at least the first few weeks of the regular season following June ankle surgery. Hogan, who left football for professional lacrosse in February, is a curious choice for New Orleans. Known as a wideout who played hundreds of empty snaps every season, Hogan, 33, would be buried on the team’s depth chart if he were signed this summer. Hogan in 2020 caught 14 balls for 118 yards for the Jets.

Hogan, of course, played lacrosse at Penn State, as many know thanks to constant reminders on telecasts. The 33-year-old won two Super Bowls during his football career and was a serviceable deep threat in his prime with the Patriots. Hogan ends his career with a 216-2,795-18 line across 100 games with the Bills, Patriots, Panthers, and Jets. Injuries had been his issue in recent years.

Hogan has been playing a ton of snaps, checking in for 282 plays, but they have essentially been wind sprints, as the veteran wideout has just 14 catches for 118 yards. He will miss a minimum of three games, but it will probably be longer with a high-ankle sprain. By the time Hogan is back, it’s possible improved health to his teammates will mean his role is gone.

Coach Adam Gase said the team is waiting for additional test results before announcing a timetable for Hogan’s return. Breshad Perriman, who could return as soon as Week 6, will presumably step in for Hogan and play in three-wide sets with Jeff Smith and Jamison Crowder for the foreseeable future. Crowder is the only one who can be depended on for fantasy until Sam Darnold (shoulder) is cleared.

Hogan hauled in all three of his targets for 20 yards before being carted off the field in the second half. With Breshad Perriman expected to return in Week 6, Jeff Smith, who led the team with 11 targets on Sunday, and Jamison Crowder will presumably round out New York’s three-wide sets with Perriman for the foreseeable future.

New York’s No. 1 receiver is back after missing two games with a hamstring injury. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said Crowder “won’t be 100 percent” but will “give it a go” against the Broncos on Thursday Night Football. He sounds like a risky proposition for fantasy managers, though Crowder could command a bunch of targets in a receiver group that includes Chris Hogan and Braxton Berrios. Both Hogan and Berrios get a downgrade against Denver if Crowder is active.