Saints activate rookie Offensive Tackle from injured reserve

The Saints have activated first-round draft pick from 2022, OT Trevor Penning, a rare positive piece of news on the injury front for the team.

The New Orleans Saints have activated rookie offensive tackle, Trevor Penning from the injured reserve list ahead of their Week 12 matchup according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football. \

Penning was selected by the Saints with the 19th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

If Penning plays in Week 12, this will be his first regular season action. Penning played in the preseason before being placed on injured reserve in September after suffering a turf toe injury.

Penning was the highest-graded 1st-round offensive rookie in Week 1 of the preseason by PFF. He had a grade of 90.9.

Fans were excited about Saints tackle Trevor Penning before he went down with injury

The injury sidelined Penning for months, however, he returned to practice a few weeks ago and is on track to make his NFL debut. It is unknown whether Penning will play a role in the Saints’ Week 12 game against the San Francisco 49ers due to the return of offensive lineman James Hurst, who suffered a concussion Week 10. Any snaps that Penning can play will be valuable learning opportunities.

Penning and Hurst were both present at practice heading into the Saints Week 12 game. Hurst had started all of the 10 games he had played this season. However, due to his concussion, he was forced to miss Week 11 and is now set to return in Week 12.

The Saints offensive line will be going head-to-head with the 49ers defensive line and its pass rush. In order to defeat the dominant 49ers defense, Saints quarterback Andy Dalton needs to get the ball out quickly, which he has been doing. In his eight starts this season, Dalton is completing 73.4 percent of his passes with a passer rating of 110.8 when the ball is out in less than 2.5 seconds.

With the Saints’ offensive line looking healthier than it has in previous weeks, New Orleans could pull off an upset and defeat the explosive 49ers and end their winning streak.

The Saints also activated cornerback Bradley Roby from injured reverse. Roby entered the 2022 season as a starting cornerback opposite Marshon Lattimore. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 7 and was placed on injured reverse in October.

Penning’s and Roby’s game status’ currently remain unknown for Week 12.