The struggling New Orleans Saints have signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, according to reports from NFL Network and ESPN on Monday.
Valdes-Scantling, 30, joins a Saints team that has lost five consecutive games after starting the season 2-0. He was released by Buffalo last week following the Bills’ acquisition of receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns.
This season, Valdes-Scantling recorded two catches for 26 yards in six games (without any starts) with the Bills, but he is expected to take on a larger role in New Orleans’ depleted receiving corps.
“He’s a bigger receiver with good speed, and he can fill some of the needs we have, especially with the loss of Rashid Shaheed,” said Saints coach Dennis Allen. “Adding another speed element is something we’re considering.”
New Orleans will be without Shaheed for the rest of the season after he underwent knee surgery last week. Additionally, Chris Olave missed Thursday’s 33-10 home loss to the Denver Broncos due to a concussion and remains in protocol as of Monday.
Valdes-Scantling began his career with Green Bay from 2018 to 2021 before spending two years with Kansas City, where he won two Super Bowls. The seventh-year veteran has tallied 188 receptions for 3,181 yards and 16 touchdowns over 98 career games (60 starts).
