The Saints’ desire to keep quarterback Ryan Griffin from signing with another team has cost linebacker Martez Wilson his spot on the New Orleans roster.
Griffin was promoted from the practice squad on Tuesday and the Saints freed up a roster spot for him by waiving Wilson. Wilson has been with the Saints since the team drafted him with the 72nd overall pick in 2011, but Wilson never quite found a role on the team’s defense.
There was some feeling that would change with the arrival of Rob Ryan as defensive coordinator, but Ryan’s move to a 3-4 scheme didn’t do anything to boost Wilson’s playing time. Wilson has been active just four times so far this year after he was thought to have the inside track on a starting job after Victor Butler’s injury, something he didn’t take advantage of during camp.
The Saints signed Keyunta Dawson at outside linebacker earlier this month and he was active against the Patriots while Wilson was a healthy scratch, which turned out to be some pretty explicit writing on the wall.