Former Tennessee Vols star heading back to where he had breakout NFL success

A former Tennessee Vols standout is getting a second chance with a familiar team.  

Marquez Callaway is signing with the New Orleans Saints' practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon.  The move comes in response to placing WR Michael Thomas on the injured reserve list. 

Callaway played for the Vols from 2016-2019 and is second in school history with 3 career punt return touchdowns.  He started his career with the Saints, signing with them on April 27, 2020 as an undrafted free agent.  He made the Saints' initial 53-man roster in September 2020 and appeared in 11 games with 21 catches for 213 yards.  

It was in 2021 when he really came onto the scene.  He appeared in all 17 games, starting 11.  He led the Saints in receiving yards (698) and receiving touchdowns (6) with 46 catches, second to only fellow former Vol Alvin Kamara's 47.  

However, his three-year rookie contract ended after the 2022 season, and the Saints declined to give him a qualifying offer, which made him a free agent in March 2023.  Callaway signed on with the Broncos and Raiders earlier this year but failed to stick with either.  

Now, he's back where he started when he came into the league, and an opportunity could be there for him.  Thomas is out for at least the next four games with a knee injury.  Chris Olave is the team's clear #1 option, but after fellow WR Rashid Shaheed, there's no other wide receiver on the active roster with more than 2 catches this season for the Saints.  Pete Carmichael, the offensive coordinator in 2021 when Callaway had his breakout year, is still there in the same role.  

As such, while he's just on the practice squad at the moment, there is a potential path for him to return to the field if he can show his coaches that he can still be the player that shone for them just two seasons ago.