Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Inks new deal with New Orleans
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The Saints re-signed Mathieu on a two-year, $13 million contract Thursday, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports.
The 31-year-old has officially agreed to terms to stay in New Orleans after spending the last two years with the team. Despite a slight drop in his numbers in 2023, Mathieu remained effective, tallying 75 total tackles and nine passes defended, including four interceptions through 17 regular-season contests. Assuming he can avoid injury, the 2013 third-rounder should maintain his every-down role as the Saints' starting free safety in 2024.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Tackling production dips in 2023
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Mathieu appeared in all 17 games during the 2023 regular season, tallying 75 tackles and nine passes defended, including four interceptions.
Mathieu logged 16 fewer tackles compared to the 2022 campaign when he recorded a career-high 91. However, he remained effective in coverage during his second season with New Orleans, tallying at least three interceptions for the fifth season in a row to go along with the fourth pick-six of his 11-year career. Mathieu will enter the final season of his three-year, $28.3 million contract with New Orleans in 2024.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Active in Week 16 loss
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Mathieu recorded nine tackles (six solo) and a pass breakup in the Saints' 30-22 loss to the Rams on Thursday.
The safety played every single defensive snap for the 11th time in 15 games. Mathieu has recorded 67 tackles, eight pass breakups and three interceptions so far during his second season in New Orleans.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Season-best tackling effort in loss
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Mathieu racked up nine tackles (six solo) and one pass defensed during Thursday's 30-22 loss to the Rams.
Mathieu is up to 67 tackles (46 solo) to go with eight pass breakups and three interceptions across 15 appearances on the season. The veteran safety remains an every-down starter for the Saints, and he may need to come up big again in order for the team to contain Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers' offense Week 17.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Picks off two passes Sunday
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Mathieu notched four tackles (three solo) and two interceptions in Sunday's 24-15 loss to the Falcons.
Mathieu halted a Falcons drive deep into New Orleans territory by picking off Desmond Ridder at the Saints' one-yard line late in the second quarter. The veteran struck again in the third period, picking off Ridder on a deep pass intended for Van Jefferson. The interceptions were Mathieu's second and third of the campaign, giving him at least three pickoffs in five straight seasons.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Questionable to suit up Week 8
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The Saints have ruled Mathieu (foot) questionable to play Sunday versus the Colts.
Mathieu began Week 8 prep with a pair of limited practices, but his outlook was improved by his ability to log a full practice session Friday. The safety was also listed as questionable for last Thursday's loss to Jacksonville, but he played in that game and logged 98 percent of the team's defensive snaps. Mathieu hasn't missed a regular-season contest since the opening game of Kansas City's 2021 slate, and he appears to have a good chance of extending his streak to 41 straight matchups this coming Sunday.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Scores in blowout win
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Mathieu did not record a tackle but had a pick-six during New Orleans' 34-0 win against the Patriots on Sunday.
Mathieu returned a Mac Jones interception 27 yards in the first quarter to give the Saints their first of four touchdowns of the day. This was the 31-year-old's first touchdown since 2019, and he'll aim for another productive week against the Texans on Sunday.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Five tackles in opener
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Mathieu recorded five tackles (three solo) in the Saints' 16-15 win over the Titans in Week 1.
Mathieu didn't do anything flashy but he was able to log five takedowns while playing every one of the team's defensive snaps in the narrow victory. The safety is now in his second season with New Orleans and is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he registered a career-high 91 tackles.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Contract restructured
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Mathieu agreed Friday to restructure his contract with the Saints, clearing up $4.7 million in 2023 salary cap space, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Mathieu posted a career-high 91 tackles (64 solo) while suiting up for all 17 games with New Orleans in 2022, with eight passes defended and three interceptions. The veteran safety heads into his age-31 season with two years left on his deal with the Saints.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Posts career campaign in NOLA
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Mathieu recorded a career-high 91 tackles (64 solo) as well as eight passes defended, including three interceptions, while playing all 17 games in the 2022 season.
Mathieu provided instant returns after joining his hometown team this past offseason, finishing with the squad's second-most tackles behind linebacker Demario Davis (109) as well as the second-most passes defended behind cornerback Alontae Taylor (11). The 30-year-old safety also tallied at least three interceptions for the fourth year in a row, increasing his career total to 29. Mathieu was one of the few mainstays in New Orleans' banged-up secondary by playing all but two defensive snaps in the 2022 regular season. He has two years remaining on his three-year, $33 million contract with New Orleans.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Getting $18M guaranteed in deal
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Mathieu agreed Monday on a three-year, $33 million contract with the Saints that includes $18 million fully guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Mathieu and the Saints still are ironing out some details on the contract before it's finalized, but the 29-year-old is committed to continuing his career in his hometown of New Orleans. The three-time Pro Bowler joins the team after a three-year stay in Kansas City that he concluded with a 76-tackle, three-interception effort over 16 games in 2021.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Finalizing deal with Saints
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Mathieu and the Saints agreed to terms on a deal Monday that is expected to be finalized in the coming days, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Given his status as a former LSU standout and New Orleans native, Mathieu-to-the-Saints buzz has been percolating for several weeks, but it wasn't until after the 2022 NFL Draft that the two sides were able to gain meaningful traction in contract discussions. The exact terms of Mathieu's deal may not be known for a few more days, but the 29-year-old is expected to slot in as a starter in an excellent New Orleans secondary that includes cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, free-agent safety pickup Marcus Maye and the versatile C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who is capable of moving between cornerback and safety as needed. Mathieu is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he earned his third Pro-Bowl nod after totaling 76 tackles, six pass breakups, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a sack in 16 regular-season appearances with the Chiefs.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Full participant Thursday
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Mathieu (concussion) was a full participant in Thursday's practice session, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
While coach Andy Reid indicated that Mathieu hasn't yet cleared the league's concussion protocol, it was encouraging to see him back in action without limitations Thursday. Assuming he clears the protocols in the coming days, it wouldn't be surprising to see him start in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Full participant Wednesday
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Mathieu (quadriceps) was a full participant at Wednesday's practice.
Mathieu left Sunday's blowout win over the Steelers in the second half due to a quad contusion, but coach Andy Reid said Mathieu "feels great" after going through a full practice Wednesday. Barring a setback, the star safety will likely be available when the Chiefs face the Bengals in Week 17.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Likely available Sunday
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Coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Mathieu (quadriceps) "feels great" after leaving Sunday's win over the Steelers in the second half, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.
The Chiefs were blowing the Steelers out when Mathieu was ruled out for the rest of the game, so that may have caused Kansas City to be overly cautious with the star defensive back. Reid also said that the athletic trainers were able to work on the injury right away, which may have allowed Mathieu to recover more quickly than usual. With that said, the Chiefs have yet to release their practice report, which will give a better indication of what Mathieu's status will look like for Week 17.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Done for today
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Mathieu (quadriceps) will not return Sunday against the Steelers, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.
Mathieu exited in the second half with the injury. The severity of the injury is unknown and whether Mathieu's inability to return has more to do with the score and time left in the game or the extent of the injury itself. Daniel Sorensen will likely see extra work for the remainder of the game. After the game, coach Andy Reid clarified that Mathieu's injury is a quad contusion, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic, so Mathieu is unlikely to miss additional game action as a result of the injury.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Suiting up Week 11
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Mathieu (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
The star safety was a late addition to the injury report, which naturally raised concerns about his availability for Sunday's interconference showdown. However, Mathieu will fill his usual role against a short-handed Cowboys passing game that will be down Amari Cooper (reserve/COVID-19).
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Status in question for Sunday
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Mathieu (illness), who was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns.
Mathieu tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 1, which seemingly gave him enough time to clear all the hurdles associated with NFL protocols and get back on the active roster. He accomplished the feat just one day before the Chiefs' season opener, but perhaps the team is concerned with his conditioning due to the long layoff. Mathieu's status for Week 1 will become known approximately 90 minutes before Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Not practicing Wednesday
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Coach Andy Reid said Mathieu (illness) won't practice Wednesday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Mathieu tested positive for COVID-19 last week and was expected to rejoin the team ahead of Wednesday's practice. It's unclear if he has cleared protocols and simply isn't practicing, or if he is still under protocols, as he hasn't officially been activated off the COVID-19 list. The star safety will be in danger of missing Week 1 if he continues to be absent at practice. Armani Watts is the most likely candidate to start at safety if Mathieu is unable to go.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Could return Wednesday
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Coach Andy Reid said Mathieu (illness) remains in COVID-19 protocols, but the safety could rejoin the team ahead of Wednesday's practice, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Mathieu has been on the COVID-19 list since testing positive for the virus last week, but he could end up getting a full week of practice ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Browns. Armani Watts remains the likely candidate to start at safety should Mathieu be unable to gain clearance in time.
