Dennis Allen announces Saints edge rusher Tanoh Kpassagnon tore Achilles

The New Orleans Saints learned on Tuesday that they’ll be without edge rusher Tanoh Kpassagnon for at least several months, if not the whole 2024 season. Head coach Dennis Allen revealed during a press conference that the former Chiefs standout tore his Achilles during the offseason work and his timeline for return is unclear.

Kpassagnon is entering the fourth year of his Saints tenure and eighth year in the league. He’s also on his second year of a two-year extension that he signed last offseason. He inked with New Orleans for $5 million. The deal included fully guaranteed money on his 2023 salary, but not his 2024 salary. He earned a half-million roster bonus in March, however.

The former second-rounder played in all 17 games for the Saints in 2023, racking up 19 tackles with 3.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. Calf and ankle injuries in 2021 kept him from playing all but eight games for the Saints but he played in 15 during the 2022 season.

Through seven seasons, Kpassagnon has played in 101 regular-season games. He has 139 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles with two recoveries.

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Kpassagnon out of Villanova. They snagged him with the No. 59 overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. While at Villanova, he became a two-time All-Colonial Athletic Association first-team member.

While with the Chiefs, Kpassagnon earned a Super Bowl LIV win against the San Francisco 49ers. Though Kansas City didn’t extend the edge rusher past his rookie contract, he played well enough to signed a two-year deal with the Saints for $4.5 million.

Broncos lose linebacker to torn ACL

The Chiefs aren’t the only AFC West team that’s lost a defender before the 2024 season. Last week, the Denver Broncos announced linebacker Drew Sanders tore his ACL. Sanders tore his ACL in the early portion of the spring workout program last month, which will keep him off the field for the majority of the season if not the whole season.

The Broncos drafted Sanders out of Arkansas with the No. 67 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. As a rookie, the linebacker played in all 17 regular season games, starting four. He tallied 24 tackles with one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery, which he snagged against the Chiefs last October.

Sanders spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He racked up 35 tackles and worked his way into the rotation. He then opted to transfer to Arkansas, where he had one breakout season. Sanders played his way to the top of 2023 draft boards after starting for the Hogs.