The New Orleans Saints are bringing punter Blake Gillikin back for the 2023 season, a league source confirmed.
NewOrleans.football was the first to report the news.
Gillikin has handled the Saints full-time punting duties for each of the last two seasons, taking over a position held for a long time by veteran Thomas Morstead.
Last season, Gillikin ranked T-12th among NFL punters in net average (41.5 yards) and T-4th in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (32).
He entered this season as a restricted free agent, but the Saints opted not to submit a qualifying offer for him. The minimum “right of first refusal” offer for restricted free agents would have been $2.627 million.
One thing will change, however: Gillikin had worn No. 4 in his first two professional seasons, but is expected to wear No. 5 in 2023, allowing quarterback Derek Carr to take his old number.
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