A former Falcons wideout is trying to make his way back to the NFL stage by way of the club’s most hated rivals, the Saints.
Russell Gage is trying out in New Orleans following a stint with another NFC South club. The LSU product inked a three-year, $30 million deal with the Buccaneers a couple of years ago, but it didn’t go how either side wanted.
Injuries kept him from making much of an impact over the first two years of the deal. At the time of the signing, Gage had amassed 138 catches for 1,556 yards and eight touchdowns over his previous two seasons with the Falcons. Unfortunately for Gage, he would never reach his potential in Tampa Bay.
A hamstring injury hampered his first training camp and it lingered all season, limiting him to just 51 catches, 426 yards and five scores. Injuries would continue to affect him.
Ultimately, Gage tore his patellar tendon during training camp this past year, relegating him to injured reserve and missing the entire season. The Bucs then declined to pick up his option.
The Saints parted ways with fan favorite Michael Thomas due to injuries, and they did add Equanimeous St. Brown and Bub Means this offseason, but it’s a Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed receiver room in New Orleans.
Gage may soon complete the trifecta of playing for the Falcons, Saints, and Buccaneers with only the Panthers left to go. The Baton Rouge native burst onto the scene at LSU and found early success in Atlanta; hopefully, he will find it again, but somewhere other than New Orleans.
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Photographer: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
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