Saints try out a few offensive linemen after losing players to COVID-19 reserve
The New Orleans Saints offensive line took a huge hit this week after starting left tackle Terron Armstead was designated to the COVID-19 reserve list, with backup guard Derrick Kelly following him. Neither player was available for their win with the Denver Broncos and their status is in doubt ahead of Sunday’s game with the Atlanta Falcons.
So it makes sense for the Saints to host a few free agents on tryouts. They reported two visitors on the daily NFL transactions wire:
Brady Aiello
(AP Photo/Young Kwak)
A college teammate of Saints rookie Calvin Throckmorton (a member of the practice squad), Aiello mostly started games at left and right tackle for Oregon with a few spot-starts here and there at right guard. He weighed in at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds before signing with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. He also joined the Cleveland Browns for training camp before trying out for the Saints and Washington Football Team earlier this season. He spoke about his first tryout with the Saints back in October, telling Jon Kingdon of the Lamorinda Weekly: "I'm now in New Orleans for a tryout. They have put me up in a hotel and I'm not allowed to go anywhere for three days, getting a COVID test each day before I am allowed to show up at their facility."
O'Shea Dugas
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
A big left guard out of Louisiana Tech, Dugas tipped the scales at 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He cross-trained at left tackle in Bengals training camp until a preseason knee injury ended his rookie year before it started. Dugas joined Aiello in the same group tryout for the Saints earlier this season.
