The New Orleans Saints cannot catch a break, as deep threat and star returner Rashid Shaheed is the latest player to catch the injury bug. Originally reported by Nick Underhill of New Orleans Football, Shaheed injured his knee late in the fourth quarter of the team’s Week 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As of this posting, the wide receiver is reportedly undergoing testing to determine the severity of the injury, but Underhill says there is “some concern” the former undrafted free agent could miss some time.
If the injury sidelines Rashid Shaheed for a few weeks, it could force the Saints to make a desperate move. Since their 2-0 start, New Orleans has lost four straight games while losing over half of their Week 1 starters to various ailments. Despite all the bad luck, head coach Dennis Allen knows he won’t survive another losing season. With his job security effectively in the hands of fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler, the Saints could beat the Kansas City Chiefs to the punch and trade for star wide receiver Amari Cooper.
Update: the Bills beat everyone to the punch, trading a third-round pick for the wide receiver
Rashid Shaheed is getting his knee checked for severity of injury after getting hurt in the fourth quarter. There's some concern he could miss time but will know more after checks, per source
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) October 14, 2024
Rashid Shaheed Injury Could Force An Amari Cooper Trade
Even before the Rashid Shaheed injury, the Saints were reportedly aggressive in their pursuits of Davante Adams. However, that ship officially sailed following the Jets Week 6 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Desperate to salvage what’s left of their 2-4 season, the Jets traded for Adams early on Tuesday morning. With the top option off the trade market, Amari Cooper is now the biggest name likely to switch teams.
After missing all but four snaps of the 2023 season, Rodgers is back on the field but still looks a little rusty. While he and Garrett Wilson are beginning to establish a connection, there have been growing pains between the two throughout the season. Adams won’t have to worry about that, as the former teammates have one of the closest quarterback-receiver connections in history. With two elite weapons in Adams and Wilson complemented by a surprisingly effective Allen Lazard, New York could make some noise down the stretch as Rodgers knocks off the rust from his lost season.
Adams may have been the first domino to fall in the trade market, but he won’t be the last. Several contenders need more playmakers, but none more than the Kansas City Chiefs.
Chiefs Going For Three
The Kansas City Chiefs were not in the Davante Adams trade sweepstakes, as the team didn’t want to match the Raiders asking price and Las Vegas didn’t want to send one of their best players to a division rival. However, that doesn’t mean Kansas City isn’t looking for offensive weapons. The Chiefs entered their bye week with an immaculate 5-0 record, but some flaws are present in their metaphorical armor. The Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice injuries decimated the wide receiver depth chart, leading Patrick Mahomes to not look like his usual dominant self.
If the Chiefs plan on making a surprise trade for Amari Cooper, they must do it before the Rashid Shaheed injury and Davante Adams trade force the Saints hand. Mahomes remains the gold standard for quarterback play, but he’ll struggle to win his third title in as many seasons with an aging Travis Kelce, a promising but inconsistent Xavier Worthy, and a well past-his-prime Juju Smith-Schuster. Cooper is the best receiver on the trade block and would dramatically increase Kansas City’s odds of successfully defending their title.
Main Photo: Matthew Hinton – USA Today Sports
