Saints’ Jalen Saunders Pulls Off Incredible 99-Yard Kick Return (GIF)
By Sam Richmond
New Orleans Saints returner Jalen Saunders took the opening kick against the Atlanta Falcons back 99 yards, putting New Orleans in great shape to score an early touchdown.
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It didn’t take long for the New Orleans Saints to get on the board versus the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16.
Running back Mark Ingram scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown just 20 seconds into the game that gave New Orleans the early 7-0 lead.
The score was set up by an incredible 99-yard kick return from Jalen Saunders.
Watch a GIF of the return below:
It’s a bit of a shame that Saunders couldn’t get that final yard, as the score would have been his first career touchdown.
The 22-year-old was a fourth round selection of the New York Jets in the 2014 NFL Draft, but found his way in New Orleans after the Jets released him in September. He had returned 13 punts in his career heading into Sunday’s game, but the exciting kickoff return was the first of his career.
After the 99-yard return, the Saints will surely give Sanders another chance at handling kickoff return duties.
(This GIF comes courtesy of one of FanSided’s excellent GIF makers, Zombie Prophet and Mike Dyce. Follow them on Twitter, @MikeDyce, @ZProphet_MMA and @FanSidedGIF, for the best GIFs in sports.)