Paulson Adebo’s Early Departure from the Saints
Paulson Adebo’s time with the Saints concluded sooner than many anticipated. It wasn’t only due to the team’s decision not to re-sign him after free agency began in March. His last season was also cut short by a serious injury—a broken femur.
Now, Adebo returns to the Superdome with the Giants, facing off against the team that helped shape his career. “I appreciate the first four years and the role the Saints played in that initial chapter. I’m looking to build on this new chapter,” he noted. “It’s a business in the NFL.”
Adebo mentioned that the Saints and other teams had the chance to sign him before he landed a three-year contract worth $54 million with the Giants.
The Giants seemed confident in Adebo’s recovery from his injury, and so far, that confidence has been justified. He managed to play all 294 defensive snaps without missing a practice over four games.
“I’m over my injury,” he said, reflecting on his past. “I’ve played in that stadium many times, so being back feels special. Plus, I have family there, which makes it all the more enjoyable.”
As for the matchup, he’s set to either shadow Chris Olave on the field or utilize his speed against Rashid Shaheed, who can certainly be a handful. “I lined up against those guys every day for years. Olave’s a solid receiver, and Rutler has strong arm talent. The second-year quarterback is still fine-tuning things, but there’s plenty of potential,” Adebo remarked.
Meanwhile, a few players did not practice for the Giants, including Dexter Lawrence (illness), Tyler Nubin (groin), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder), and Greg Van Roten (rest). Some were limited, like Dane Belton (shoulder) and others nursing various injuries.
On the brighter side, quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Russell Wilson participated fully in practice, alongside running back Cam Skattebo.
In another locker room moment, Abdul Carter, a Pennsylvania alum, expressed confidence after a loss to Oregon, joking about getting back at his teammate Cavon Thibodeau, who played for Oregon. “It’s all good; I’ll find my chance,” Carter said with a grin, hinting at future matchups.
The Superdome crowd noise poses a unique challenge, especially for rookies during their first road starts. Coach Brian Dabor mentioned they had the crowd noise cranked up during practice to carry out crucial preparations. “It affects everything from calls to snaps—so we’ve been preparing hard,” he said.
