Cam Jordan, the all-time sacks leader for the New Orleans Saints, participated in only 20 of 72 defensive snaps (27.8%) during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday—his lowest recording since statistics began in 2012, as reported by NOLA.com’s Matthew Paras.
Saints coach Dennis Allen remarked on Monday, “You’ll probably see more of Chase (Young) and Carl (Granderson). Cam remains an essential part of our game plan.”
“It comes down to effectiveness, and I believe Young and Granderson have been performing at a high level. This isn’t a slight against Cam; it’s just how things evolve in the game over time.”
Jordan was on the field for 46% of the snaps in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers and 49% in Week 2 facing the Dallas Cowboys. The 35-year-old has recorded two tackles and one pass deflection so far this season.
Allen noted, “Discussions about Jordan’s reduced role have been ongoing. There’s a lot of communication within our organization.”
Prior to his ankle injury last season, Jordan’s snap count never fell below 67%, often staying in the 80% range. His two sacks last season were the fewest recorded since his rookie year.
Before 2023, Jordan earned Pro Bowl selections for six consecutive years, achieving a total of 69 sacks during that time, in addition to being named a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and a second-team All-Pro in 2018 and 2019.
It appears that Jordan’s days as an elite edge rusher in the NFL may be behind him. Although he has been a key figure in New Orleans’ defense for nearly his entire career, he will now need to contribute in new ways.
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