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Culture

Saints activate Zach Wood and elevate Cedric Tillman for the Giants game

The Saints made two roster moves on Saturday, Oct. 17, activating long snapper Zach Wood from injured reserve and elevating wide receiver Cedric Tillman from the practice squad for Sunday, Oct. 18, at the New York Giants.

Saints activate Zach Wood and elevate Cedric Tillman for the Giants game
Photograph by Infrogmation of New Orleans, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Superdome seen across Poydras Street. The Saints made their Saturday roster moves on Oct. 17, ahead of Sunday, Oct. 18, at the Giants. File photograph.

NEW ORLEANS: The Saints settled the last two spots on their game day roster on Saturday, Oct. 17, activating long snapper Zach Wood from injured reserve and elevating wide receiver Cedric Tillman from the practice squad for Sunday, Oct. 18, at the New York Giants.

The team announced both moves on Saturday afternoon. Saints Wire, Louisiana Sports and NFL Trade Rumors all carried the same two transactions, and the Pro Football Rumors injured reserve return tracker also lists Wood as activated in Week 6.

Saints fans inside the Superdome. New Orleans, 1-4, plays at the 3-1-1 New York Giants on Sunday, Oct. 18, looking to end a three-game losing streak. File photograph.
Photograph by Coastie Wife 2008, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Saints fans inside the Superdome. New Orleans, 1-4, plays at the 3-1-1 New York Giants on Sunday, Oct. 18, looking to end a three-game losing streak. File photograph.

Wood returns after four weeks out

Wood, the Saints long snapper, suffered a calf strain in the season opener and spent four weeks on injured reserve before returning to practice this week, according to Saints Wire and Louisiana Sports. He had been designated for return earlier in the week, and his activation resolves the questionable designation he carried on the final injury report on Friday, Oct. 16.

The return matters at a position with no margin for a substitute. The Saints carried no other long snapper on the roster while Wood was listed as questionable, according to the Saints Wire breakdown of the final injury report, and Louisiana Sports noted that the long snapper position had drawn penalties during his absence.

A second elevation for Tillman

Tillman, 26, was a third-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Tennessee and has spent this season on the Saints practice squad, according to Saints Wire and NFL Trade Rumors. Louisiana Sports reported that this is his second of three possible elevations, after he was also elevated last week against Minnesota.

Security screening outside the Superdome on Poydras Street in January 2025. Long snapper Zach Wood returns to the active roster after four weeks on injured reserve with a calf strain. File photograph.
Photograph by Infrogmation of New Orleans, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Security screening outside the Superdome on Poydras Street in January 2025. Long snapper Zach Wood returns to the active roster after four weeks on injured reserve with a calf strain. File photograph.

Tillman has appeared in one game for New Orleans this season and recorded no statistics in that appearance, according to NFL Trade Rumors. Louisiana Sports described the role the Saints have in mind for him on Sunday as another big-bodied receiver and blocking option.

The Saints enter Sunday at 1-4 and trying to break a three-game losing streak, against a Giants team that is 3-1-1 and undefeated at home, according to Saints Wire. Kickoff is at noon Central on Sunday, Oct. 18, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on FOX, according to Saints Wire and Giants Wire.

Filed under: Culture, saints, zach-wood, cedric-tillman, giants, roster-moves

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Sports writer covering the Saints, the Pelicans, and college and prep sports.

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