Saints expected to activate T Trevor Penning

While this does not make it a lock Penning suits up in Week 12, the timing here could point to it. Because the Saints designated Penning for return on Nov. 10, they have another week to slow-play it with the highly drafted blocker. Penning being activated before the three-week deadline provides a decent indication he is ready to return to action.

Penning is viewed as the Saints’ left tackle of the future, but a preseason injury scuttled the organization’s plans for the Northern Iowa alum. Penning initially suffered what was thought to be a “bad case of turf toe.” However, the injury was later revealed to be a ligament tear in his injured foot. Considering the timing and severity of the injury, there was some initial fear that Penning may have to miss his entire rookie campaign. But the ex-Division I-FCS tackle is on the homestretch of his recovery. Dennis Allen said before the season the team had hopes of Penning playing this year; it looks like that will be on tap soon.

After passing on a third Terron Armstead contract, the Saints immediately reinvested in this premium position with the No. 19 overall pick. Penning was not a lock to be the team’s Week 1 starter before his injury, and James Hurst has been the team’s answer here this season. The Saints have left Pro Bowl right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, long a candidate to move to the blind side, at his usual position.

The Saints are in good shape, activation-wise, holding five IR-return moves before Penning’s activation becomes official. With the team at 4-7, Penning seeing work up front to build for 2023 makes sense. New Orleans made Penning this year’s fourth tackle taken, choosing him shortly after a top-10 run on tackles brought Ikem Ekwonu, Evan Neal and Charles Cross off the board. Like those players, Penning can be kept on his rookie deal (via the fifth-year option) through 2026.