New Orleans Saints surprisingly reunite with Kiko Alonso

According to multiple reports, inside linebacker Kiko Alonso is making a return to the NFL and is re-signing with former team the New Orleans Saints.

Via Ian Rapoport and NBC Sports, 31-year-old Kiko Alonso is reuniting with the New Orleans Saints after working out with the team this week.

Alonso was reportedly one of three veterans working out with the New Orleans Saints, and he will join the Saints’ 90-man pre-season roster, hoping to make a full return to the NFL and land a spot on the final 53-man group.

Kiko Alonso makes a shocking return to the New Orleans Saints

The Newton, Massachusetts native last played for the Saints in the 2019 season, featuring in 13 games before suffering a torn ACL that saw him placed on the reserve/PUP list – a designation that he was unable to shake off even after being traded to the San Francisco 49ers for Kwon Alexander.

Alonso was released by the 49ers with a failed physical designation on November 23rd, 2020, and was not seen or heard from in an official capacity until surprising many with his workouts this week.

After being selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round (46th overall) of the 2013 Draft, Alonso had made his mark as an impactful tackler in the heart of the defense, having a strong rookie campaign at Orchard Park before spells with the Philadelphia Eagles and, more consistently, the Miami Dolphins.

Having missed the 2014 campaign through injury, Alonso played one year with the Eagles before spending three consecutive seasons as a defensive leader with the Dolphins. Eventually, he found himself playing for the Saints.

In 86 regular season games, including 67 starts, Alonso earned 588 total tackles (369 solo), 30 tackles for loss, ten interceptions, 17 passes defended, seven forced fumbles, all of them recovered, as well as three sacks.

It remains to be seen what kind of impact the veteran linebacker will be able to have after so long out of action, but if he can stay healthy and get back up to speed quickly, then he could become a quietly impressive addition to the Saints’ roster.

Having a player of his quality back in the middle of the defense could go a long way, even if he needs to take a step back and act as more of a depth/rotational solution initially.