Saints Claim Former Giants CB Janoris Jenkins
The New Orleans Saints have claimed 2016 Pro Bowl cornerback Janoris Jenkins off waivers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Jenkins was waived by the Giants on Dec. 13 following a negative interaction and tweet on Twitter with a fan. In response to the fan, Jenkins used the word "retard," and later claimed that it was simply "slang" and "a part of my culture." Jenkins refused to acknowledge the insensitivity of his tweet. The Giants' organization decided to release Jenkins after the incident.
Though sidelined by an ankle injury, Jenkins is reinforcement to a New Orleans defensive backfield riddled with injuries. Jenkins will be reunited with former teammate and first-round draft pick Eli Apple. The cornerbacks spent two years alongside one another in New York.
The versatile defensive back made a name for himself as a rookie back in 2012 as a member of the St. Louis Rams, with four interceptions and returning three of those for touchdowns. After an impressive four years with the Rams, Jenkins took his talents to the "Big Apple" and signed a five-year, $62.5 million deal in the summer of 2016.
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His time in New York was highlighted by his second-team All-Pro nod in 2016, with an impressive defensive backfield that included Apple, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Landon Collins. In 2018, Jenkins appeared in all 16 games, collecting 70 tackles and two interceptions. This season, Jenkins has four interceptions, including two back in Week 4 against the Washington Redskins.
Jenkins's eight-year NFL career with the Rams and Giants has yielded 22 interceptions, with seven returned for touchdowns. Along with over 100 passes defensed and 400 tackles, Jenkins is viewed as one of the most versatile defensive backs in the NFL.
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