The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal to re-sign wide receiver Dante Pettis on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Pettis began the 2024 season with the Chicago Bears before being released in September with an injury settlement. He eventually latched onto the Saints' practice squad before becoming a part of their offense late in the season. The 29-year-old finished his sixth year in the NFL with 12 receptions on 28 targets for just 120 yards and one touchdown in eight starts. The former second-round pick (44th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018 out of the University of Washington had his best season in his rookie year, when he had 27 catches for 467 yards and five touchdowns on 45 targets in 12 games (seven starts). Pettis will look for a bigger role in his first full season in New Orleans but will most likely have a small role behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Dante Pettis caught two of his six targets for 16 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pettis was the only Saint to find the end zone in the season finale with the rest of New Orleans' points provided by the leg of kicker Blake Grupe. Pettis was signed to the Saints practice squad partway through the season and was added to the active roster in December to accommodate for the team's lack of depth at wide receiver. Over the course of the season, Rashid Shaheed (knee) and Bub Means (ankle) were lost to season-ending injuries and Chris Olave (concussion) missed a total of nine games after suffering two separate concussions. Pettis will finish the season with 10 receptions for 120 yards in his limited role.
Wide receiver Dante Pettis of the New Orleans Saints earned seven targets on Monday at Green Bay but finished with only two catches for 31 yards. The barren New Orleans offense was down to starting quarterback Spencer Rattler, who completed only half of his 30 passing attempts for 153 yards and an interception in a blowout 34-0 defeat. The Saints have ample opportunity for Pettis to play a high volume of snaps, but they have so few weapons at this stage of the season that starting anyone on this offense is likely a no-go. New Orleans will continue playing out the string in Week 17 against Las Vegas.
The New Orleans Saints signed veteran wide receiver Dante Pettis to the practice squad on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. Starting wideouts Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) are banged up heading into Thursday night's contest against the Denver Broncos, so there's a chance Pettis could be activated to the active roster in Week 7. Pettis, a 2018 second-round pick, has hauled in 71 of his 132 career targets for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns in his NFL career. He last played for the Chicago Bears in 2022, catching 19 passes for 245 yards and three scores. It would be a surprise if Pettis becomes a fantasy-relevant option, but he could see playing time if the New Orleans pass-catching group continues to battle injuries.
Free-agent wide receiver Dante Pettis visited the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday with the hopes of landing a new contract. Former Jet Denzel Mims also tried out for Dallas. The Cowboys are looking to bolster their wide receiver depth with Brandin Cooks (knee) on Injured Reserve and set to miss at least three more games. Pettis spent training camp with the Chicago Bears this summer but failed to make the final roster. He last appeared in a regular season game in 2022, catching 19 passes for 245 yards with the Bears. Even if Dallas signs one of these receivers, they won't be on the fantasy football radar in any format.
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Bears wide receiver Dante Pettis could have already locked up a spot on the depth chart. "It wasn't just the two touchdowns he caught against the Bengals, It's how he has been used in practice." said Biggs during his recent column. "Pettis offers a sure-handed option as a punt returner and might be the fifth receiver. He certainly helped himself Saturday." The 28-year-old last played in 2022, where he recorded 19 catches for 245 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games with Chicago. While Pettis likely won't see more attention than DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, or Rome Odunze, he's someone to watch in case one of those guys gets injured during the 2024-25 campaign. However, he'll need to keep climbing the depth chart heading into Week 1.
Dante Pettis Catches Two Touchdowns In Preseason Win
Chicago Bears wide receiver Dante Pettis played just 12 snaps in the team's 27-3 preseason win over the Bengals but made them count, catching all three of his targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns, including a 25-yard touchdown grab from Tyson Bagent. Behind receivers DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze, Pettis is vying to be the primary backup. The offseason acquisitions and the switch to offensive coordinator Shane Waldron suggest more three-receiver sets this year, which could elevate the role of the fourth receiver. Pettis has one final opportunity Thursday at Kansas City to secure his spot before the team's season opener on September 8 against the Titans.
Veteran free-agent wide receiver Dante Pettis is signing a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. The 2018 second-round pick last played in 2022 with Chicago, and he was released during last year's training camp with an injury settlement. Pettis has hauled in just 71 passes for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns through his first 50 regular season games. He's unlikely to be on the fantasy radar in 2024, especially since the Bears now have one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL in DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Dante Pettis (undisclosed) was removed from the non-football injury list on Wednesday. The veteran hasn't participated in training camp because of an undisclosed injury. However, with DJ Moore, Chase Claypool, and Darnell Mooney (ankle) expected to serve as Justin Fields' top targets, Pettis may see most of his work as a punt returner this season. If anything, his availability isn't good news for guys like Velus Jones Jr., who is battling for a spot on the roster.
The Chicago Bears re-signed wide receiver Dante Pettis to a one-year deal on Monday. The 27-year-old caught 19 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns last season, his first year in Chicago, before hitting the free-agent market. Pettis has not lived up to expectations since being taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft. While he set the all-time NCAA record for most punt-return touchdowns, he has yet to score a special teams touchdown in the NFL. His speed could work well in the Bears offense, and quarterback Justin Fields has hit him deep for some big plays when he does get open, but he has been inconsistent.
Dante Pettis
• WR
•
Saints
