Knee scope linked to previous ACL tear

Meredith, who was placed on injured reserve Thursday, will undergo arthroscopic procedure to address the persistent swelling he has endured in his surgically-repaired left knee, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: Coach Sean Payton said the Saints are optimistic the cleanup surgery will provide a permanent fix for the swelling Meredith has experienced in the same knee he tore during the 2017 preseason. That injury forced him to miss all of last season, with Meredith ultimately landing with the Saints after the Bears declined to match the two-year, $9.6 million deal New Orleans offered. While the first year of that deal proved to be a bust, the Saints are hopeful a healthy Meredith can serve as a quality…read more

Headed for IR

Meredith will be placed on injured reserve by the Saints and will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Meredith missed the entire 2017 season after tearing both his ACL and MCL in the preseason, and was inactive for the first two games of 2018, seemingly due to lingering effects. He had also been an afterthought in the offense of late, going without a catch (and under 20 snaps) in three consecutive games. Now that there is a second narrative behind his lower usage, as well as additional context behind Wednesday's signing of free agent receiver Dez Bryant. Meredith is expected to recover in full,…read more

No practice Wednesday

Meredith (knee) didn't participate in practice Wednesday.

Analysis: Meredith has failed to draw a target for three consecutive games, averaging just 13.3 offensive snaps during that stretch. With the Saints' addition of Dez Bryant on Wednesday, Meredith is a candidate to plunge further in the pecking order at receiver within an offense that revolves around Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. Before he can figure out his new standing, though, Meredith will have to prove the health of his left knee.

Plays only 13 snaps

Meredith was not targeted in Sunday's win against the Rams.

Analysis: This was the third week in a row that Meredith did not receive even a single target and he played just 13 of the Saints' 71 offensive snaps. With Tre'Quan Smith locked in as the team's No. 2 receiver and even Austin Carr (15 snaps) seeing more playing time than him, Meredith can probably be dropped in most formats.

Full practice Thursday

Meredith (knee) practiced fully Thursday.

Analysis: In three opportunities to take advantage of Ted Ginn's (knee) placement on IR, Meredith has struck just one time (five catches for 71 yards Week 5 against the Redskins). Since the Saints returned from an ensuing bye, Meredith has been blanked in back-to-back games, going without a target both times. It's difficult to forecast much in the passing attack beyond No. 1 wideout Michael Thomas (shoulder) and the backfield duo of Alvin Kamara (illness) and Mark Ingram. Therefore, Meredith's viability…read more

Starts week limited by knee injury

Meredith (knee) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice.

Analysis: Meredith has failed to capitalize on Ted Ginn's move to injured reserve, essentially splitting the No. 3 receiver job with slot specialist Austin Carr. There's some hope for increased involvement if the condition of his knee improves, but Meredith can't be counted on to handle significant volume Sunday against the Rams.

Not targeted Week 8

Meredith was not targeted in Sunday night's win against the Vikings.

Analysis: Meredith played just nine of the Saints' 53 offensive snaps, being outpaced by Michael Thomas (51 snaps), Tre'Quan Smith (41 snaps) and even Austin Carr (19 snaps). Despite Ted Ginn (knee) being placed on injured reserve, Meredith has actually seen his playing time reduced the last couple weeks. It's possible that Meredith is still not fully recovered from last year's season-ending knee injury, but whatever the reason, the popular sleeper pick looks nothing like the fantasy contributor many had…read more

Full practice Thursday

Meredith (knee) practiced in full Thursday, the Saints' official site reports.

Analysis: Meredith is following the precise practice regimen from last week, so there's little worry about his ability to suit up Sunday night at Minnesota. In the four games in which he's played this season, he's logged 36.4 percent (104 of 286) of the Saints' offensive snaps. In the team's first game without Ted Ginn (knee) this past Sunday in Baltimore, Meredith wasn't targeted while taking the field for 18 of 71 such snaps, which was well behind Michael Thomas (65) and Tre'Quan Smith (52). That said,…read more

Limited at Wednesday's practice

Meredith (knee) was limited in practice Wednesday.

Analysis: Meredith was trending up after a five-catch, 71-yard performance Week 5 against the Redskins, but he emerged from the Saints' Week 6 bye with a knee injury. He followed up a limited session last Wednesday with back-to-back full practices, only to handle a season-low 18 snaps on offense in Sunday's win over the Ravens. The usage was somewhat unexpected in the wake of Ted Ginn (knee) landing on injured reserve, but Meredith ranked a distant third to Michael Thomas (65) and Tre'Quan Smith (52) in…read more

Only 18 snaps Week 7

Meredith was not targeted in Sunday's win against the Ravens.

Analysis: A week after his best performance in a Saints uniform, Meredith surprisingly played just 18 of the team's 71 offense snaps in Baltimore. Meredith's low snap count becomes even more troubling when considering that Ted Ginn (knee) was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week. Meanwhile, rookie Tre'Quan Smith played 52 offensive snaps, catching three passes for 44 yards. Given his upside on the Saints' high-powered offense, owners in deeper leagues may want to hang onto Meredith to see if his…read more

Practices fully Thursday

Meredith (knee) practiced fully Thursday, the Saints' official site reports.

Analysis: Meredith's elevation from limited participant Wednesday to full one day later coincides with the placement of Ted Ginn on injured reserve due to a knee injury. As a result, Meredith will be in contention for regular targets behind top wideout Michael Thomas. Aside from running backs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, Meredith's primary competition will be rookie wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith.

Limited session Wednesday

Meredith was limited at Wednesday's practice due to a knee injury, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: During the Saints' previous game Week 5 against the Redskins, Meredith earned his highest target count (five) with his new organization, racking up five catches for 71 yards. The increased attention from Drew Brees coincided with an inactive Ted Ginn (knee), who remained sidelined at practice Wednesday. If the aforementioned situation repeats itself this Sunday against the Ravens, Meredith could again be the second option in the passing attack behind Michael Thomas.

Records season-high catches, yards, snaps

Meredith caught all five of his targets for 71 yards in Monday night's win against the Redskins. He also lost a fumble.

Analysis: Even with Ted Ginn sidelined with a knee injury, Meredith saw just 30 of the Saints' 66 snaps as New Orleans continues to ease him into action as he recovers from last year's season-ending ACL injury. Still, the former Bear has emerged as the team's primary slot receiver, and his catches, yards and snap count Monday night were all season highs. The Saints are on bye in Week 6, but if Meredith continues to see his playing time increase, he could emerge as a viable option in many leagues due to…read more

Not on injury report

Meredith (knee) is not listed on the Saints' injury report and is ready for Monday's game versus the Redskins, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: Meredith was inactive for the first two weeks of the season while completing his recovery from ACL surgery. He caught one reception for 11 yards and a touchdown during his return in Week 3, and followed that with three catches for 32 yards in last week's victory over the Giants. His presence at practice throughout the week, albeit limited, was a good sign going forward given the injury he was returning from. He could be in line for an extended role this week, as Ted Ginn (knee) has been ruled…read more

Still nursing knee injury

Meredith (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: The fact that Meredith is on the field in any capacity for the Saints' first practice session of the week qualifies as a good sign after his recovery from ACL surgery contributed to inactive status through the first two weeks of the season. Meredith isn't believed to have experienced any setbacks with the knee coming out of his season debut in Week 3 or in the Week 4 win over the Giants, so the expectation is that he'll return to full practice by Saturday. He'll likely be in line to serve as…read more

Three catches Week 4

Meredith caught three passes on four targets for 32 yards in Sunday's win against the Giants.

Analysis: Meredith played on 22 of the Saints' 70 offensive snaps, as the team continues to ease him into action. Still, he was the only wide receiver other than Michael Thomas to register a reception, as Ted Ginn (38 snaps), Tre'Quan Smith (26 snaps) and Austin Carr (12 snaps) were all held without a catch. With the Saints' passing game primarily revolving around Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara, ancillary options such as Meredith are hard to trust, though the talented Meredith may still have some…read more

Practices fully Thursday

Meredith (knee) was a full practice participant Thursday, the Saints' official site reports.

Analysis: After progressing from limited to full in the span of two days, Meredith's health doesn't seem to be a question mark, especially after ranking third among Saints wideouts in offensive snap share (43 percent) in his debut with the team Sunday in Atlanta. It wouldn't surprise if he takes in an even bigger role in a Week 4 road game against the Giants.

Limited at Wednesday's practice

Meredith (knee) was limited at practice Wednesday, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: Making his first appearance with the Saints on Sunday, Meredith jumped both Tre'Quan Smith and Austin Carr in terms of offensive snaps, logging 34 of 79 compared to 26 and 13 for the other two, respectively. Meredith even parlayed his only target into a 12-yard touchdown. His presence on the first injury report after his first game action in more than a year isn't much of a surprise, but Meredith's status will now be one to monitor closely to ensure he can maintain his standing as the third…read more

Scores touchdown in Saints debut

Meredith caught his only target for an 11-yard touchdown in Sunday's win against the Falcons.

Analysis: Meredith's first catch in a New Orleans uniform was a big one, as he squeezed between two defenders on a short catch-and-run to cross the goal line for a third-quarter touchdown. Meredith also played 34 of the Saints' 79 offensive snaps, fewer than only Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn. Fantasy owners should remain hesitant to start the former Bear -- he did see just one target in Atlanta -- but Meredith makes for an interesting bench stash for owners who can afford such a luxury during the bye…read more

Active Week 3

Meredith is active for Sunday's Week 3 tilt against the Falcons, Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: The biggest hint of his potential season debut came during pregame warmups, when Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate reported that Meredith wasn't a part of the group of players jogging with the practice squad contingent, as had been the case for him the prior two weeks. Meredith will apparently slot in as the No. 3 option behind starters Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn in his first taste of regular-season action in New Orleans, although it remains to be seen how many snaps he'll be afforded…read more

May soon be part of game plan

Head coach Sean Payton stated Thursday that Meredith is healthy and his progress this week could allow him to become a part of the game plan, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: Payton fell just short of saying that Meredith would be active for the Week 3 matchup against the Falcons, but his comments indicate that the former Chicago wideout is trending in the right direction. After two weeks on the inactive list, it remains unclear what role Meredith might be able to take on upon his return. Michael Thomas has already cemented himself as one of the top wideouts in all of fantasy, while Ted Ginn is showing few signs of slowing down at 33 years old. Young wideouts Austin…read more

Healthy scratch Week 2

Meredith (coach's decision) is listed as inactive Sunday against the Browns, Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate reports.

Analysis: Meredith will be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive week, as the wideout appears to need additional practice reps to get properly acclimated with the timing of the offense. Look for a similar alignment to Week 1 in the absence of Meredith, where Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn received the bulk of the playing time, while Austin Carr saw 43 snaps as the No. 3 receiver.

Limited practice reps behind inactive status

Saints head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that Meredith was made inactive for the team's season-opening loss to the Buccaneers because the receiver still needed to get the timing of the offense down, Joel A. Erickson of The New Orleans Advocate reports. "More than anything else, [making Meredith inactive] had to do with just the reps he was behind coming off of training camp," Payton said. "From a health standpoint, he's doing good. It's just getting him up to speed."

Analysis: One of the Saints' highest-profile signings of the offseason, Meredith's practice reps were significantly limited this summer while he worked his way back from a torn ACL and MCL that cost him the entire 2017 season. Meredith consequently didn't log much time with the Saints' first-string offense during the preseason, which evidently made Payton uncomfortable putting the receiver out there last Sunday. While Payton stopped short of saying if Meredith would be given the green light to play…read more

Surprise inactive Week 1

Meredith (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's season-opening contest against the Buccaneers.

Analysis: The news earlier Sunday that Austin Carr would be the starting slot receiver versus the Bucs hinted at this possibility, as did the fact that Meredith was seen jogging with practice squad players in pregame warmups, according to Josh Katzenstien of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Meredith seemed to be at close to full health by the final game of preseason, when he logged a pair of receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. His absence Sunday should also mean extra snaps for impressive rookie…read more

Finally breaks loose

Meredith caught two of four targets for 72 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's preseason finale against the Rams.

Analysis: Held without a catch on 48 snaps over the past two weeks, Meredith broke out of his funk with a 56-yard gain on a blown coverage in the first quarter, later adding a 16-yard touchdown while working from the slot. Rookie third-round pick Tre'Quan Smith also had an impressive night with four catches for 42 yards on four targets, boosting his cumulative preseason receiving line to 15-189-1. With Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn locked in as starters, Meredith is battling Smith and Austin Carr for the…read more

Struggling in preseason

Meredith mostly played with backups in Saturday's preseason win over the Chargers, ESPN.com's Mike Triplett reports.

Analysis: Working his way back from last year's ACL tear, Meredith has yet to catch a pass on 48 snaps this preseason, with his most noteworthy moment being a drop that turned into an interception. Meanwhile, rookie third-round pick Tre'Quan Smith has caught 11 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown, making a strong case for a Week 1 role. There was some thought Meredith might push Ted Ginn for the No. 2 WR job, but it now seems more likely that the former Bear will need to battle just to keep the No. 3…read more

Returns with drop

Meredith (knee) dropped his only target in Friday's preseason game against the Cardinals.

Analysis: Meredith's lone target slipped through his hands and turned into an interception, but it was nonetheless encouraging to see him in a game for the first time since he tore an ACL last preseason. He worked alongside Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn with the first-team offense, providing a preview of what we might see in Week 1. Meredith needs to improve quickly if he's to have any chance of taking the No. 2 job from Ginn, who finished Friday's game with two catches for seven yards on four targets. In…read more

Returns to practice

Meredith (knee) returned to practice Wednesday, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Meredith didn't participate in team drills, but his return to the field Wednesday in any capacity is a good sign as the wideout continues to work his way back from the season-ending knee injury he suffered last August. Assuming no setbacks in advance of Week 1, Meredith should see work in the team's three-wide formations out of the gate, but it isn't quite clear how snaps will be divided between Meredith and Ted Ginn when the Saints only have two wide receivers on the field. If things end up…read more

Remains sidelined

Meredith (knee) was absent from Monday's practice, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Analysis: Meredith was cleared for full-team contact drills at the start of training camp, but the former Bear did not play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Jaguars, nor did he participate in the Saints' last three practices. Head coach Sean Payton warned that Meredith would have his workload limited during camp and there has been no news of a setback in his recovery from a torn MCL and ACL suffered last preseason, but his continued absence is disconcerting for fantasy owners who tabbed him as…read more

Not practicing much

Meredith (knee) was held out of team drills Thursday and didn't appear to practice at all Friday, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Despite being cleared for full-team contact drills at the start of training camp, Meredith still has restrictions on the volume of reps he's handling. This doesn't appear to be any kind of setback, as coach Sean Payton already warned that Meredith would have his workload limited during camp. Signed to a two-year, $10 million contract in the offseason, Meredith is now more than 11 months removed the torn ACL and MCL he suffered last preseason. He may have a shot to push Ted Ginn for the No. 2…read more

Practicing without limitations

Meredith (knee) is participating in full-team contact work at Monday's practice, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Bouncing back from a torn ACL and MCL suffered last preseason, Meredith entered training camp without any restrictions and seems to be holding up so far. He figures to have a regular spot in three-wide formations, but it isn't quite clear how playing time will be divided between Meredith and Ted Ginn when the Saints only have two wide receivers on the field. While it wouldn't be a huge concern on some teams, the Saints only ran 550 plays with three or more wideouts on the field last season,…read more

Will be available Thursday

Saints head coach Sean Payton relayed Wednesday that Meredith (knee) will participate at the outset of training camp, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. "He's gonna go and practice, and yet we'll be smart [about his workload]," Payton said.

Analysis: The Saints begin season preparation in earnest Thursday, and Meredith will be along for the ride. He arrived in New Orleans in April, when the Bears opted not to match a two-year, $10 million offer sheet. After thoroughly impressing in 2016 -- he posted 66 catches (on 97 targets) for 888 yards and four touchdowns -- Meredith missed all of last year due to tears of the ACL and MCL in his left knee suffered during the preseason. Because of the severity of the injuries, Meredith likely will be…read more

Meredith (knee) didn't participate in team drills Thursday, but coach Sean Payton said that the wideout is "way ahead of schedule," Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: Back in April, Payton said he hoped that Meredith, who is coming off tearing his ACL and MCL last year, would be able to return to the practice field for the team's mandatory minicamp. With Payton's current level of optimism, that seems like a real possibility. Expect another update on Meredith's status as minicamp draws closer, but it's likely the Saints will ease Drew Brees' new target into the swing of things ahead of the start of training camp.

Coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that Meredith may participate in the offseason program, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. "I wouldn't be surprised to see him getting some work in our minicamp based on our [medical] reports, so we're excited," Payton said.

Analysis: In the all-important Week 3 of the preseason last August, Meredith suffered tears of the ACL and MCL in his left knee and spent the entire campaign on injured reserve. When the Bears handed the wideout an original-round tender in March, they opened themselves up to losing Meredith, an undrafted free agent in 2015, without compensation. The Saints proceeded to extend an offer sheet to Meredith earlier this month, which his old organization opted not to match. Chicago general manager Ryan Pace…read more

Meredith (knee) hopes to be healthy in time for training camp, Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate reports. "I see myself being 100 percent for at least the season," Meredith recently said. "Training camp is my goal, and I don't see any reason why I can't accomplish that."

Analysis: Meredith is on the mend from an August knee injury that involved significant damage to both his ACL and MCL. The fact that his contract is worth $10 million over two years suggests the Saints aren't overly concerned over his ability to return to full strength. Furthermore, Meredith reportedly received multiple contract offers from organizations outside of New Orleans, which suggests other teams had a similar judgment. Only time will tell when he truly does return to football activities, but…read more

Headed to New Orleans

The Bears informed Meredith (knee) on Wednesday that they won't match the two-year, $10 million offer sheet he signed with the Saints last week, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: The Bears could have retained the 25-year-old with a second-round tender for around $2.9 million, but they instead opted for an original-round tender at approximately $1.9 million, removing the possibility of draft compensation if they failed to match an offer sheet. The Saints made a similar decision with Willie Snead, who doesn't seem to be generating as much outside interest as Meredith, a 2015 undrafted free agent coming off a torn ACL and MCL, both suffered in August. Meredith barely…read more

The Saints extended an offer sheet to Meredith (knee) on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015, Meredith entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, which allows the Bears to match any offer he receives. If the Bears ultimately decide to let Meredith move on, they'll receive no compensation. His situation is an interesting one, as he followed up a breakout 66-888-4 line in 2016 with a torn ACL and partial tear of the MCL in his left knee last August. Meredith's recovery will dictate where he stands in the receiving corps in the fall,…read more

Meredith (knee) visited the Saints on Saturday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Analysis: Meredith, a restricted free agent, has also visited the Colts and Ravens. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound wideout is bouncing back from a torn ACL and partially torn MCL that he suffered last August, but Biggs relays that Meredith's target is to be ready for the start of training camp. If Meredith signs an offer sheet with another team, the Bears have the option to match said offer, but if they decline to do so, they wouldn't be due any compensation since Meredith entered the league as an undrafted…read more

Meredith (knee), who is a restricted free agent, has scheduled a visit with the Ravens, Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Analysis: Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Meredith also has visits with the Colts, plus another unspecified AFC team on tap. Both the Ravens and Colts have clear needs at receiver, so their interest in Meredith makes perfect sense. Of course, the Bears have the option to match any contract offer extended to the wideout, but if they elect not to match any offers, they wouldn't receive any compensation since Meredith entered the league as an undrafted free agent. The 25-year-old is bouncing back…read more

Meredith (knee) visited the Colts on Tuesday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Analysis: Meredith is a restricted free agent the Bears opted to use an original-round tender, meaning they would receive no compensation should he signs an offer sheet with another team and the Bears decline to match it. The 25-year-old is drawing interest despite missing the entire 2017 season after tearing his ACL in August, and has a visit with another team on the horizon.

Gets original-round tender

The Bears are using an original-round tender on Meredith (knee), a restricted free agent, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Analysis: Meredith went undrafted back in 2015, which means the Bears won't receive any compensation if he signs an offer sheet with another team and they decline to match it. The second-round tender only costs about $1 million more and would've all but assured the Bears of keeping Meredith, who came out of nowhere to catch 66 of 96 targets for 888 yards and four touchdowns over 14 games in 2016. He suffered a torn ACL last preseason and missed the whole year, but he expects to be ready for the start of…read more

Bears general manager Ryan Pace said last week that Meredith (knee) remains without an official timetable to resume normal football activities, Dan Wiederer and Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune report. "With Cam it's just closely evaluating where he's at, listening to our doctors and trainers and just following his progress and where he's going to be," Pace said.

Analysis: Meredith said earlier in the offseason that he expects to be "100 percent" healthy for training camp, and though Pace wasn't willing to guarantee as much, there's little evidence to suggest that the wideout has experienced any setbacks in his recovery from September surgery to address a torn ACL and a minor tear of the MCL in his left knee. The 25-year-old looked poised to enter the past season as the Bears' No. 1 wideout, but his outlook is more muddled heading into 2018 coming off a major…read more