IRVINE, Calif. — Will Clapp was happy to be back with his hometown team, but his return was derailed before he could play a game in 2025.
The New Orleans Saints placed Clapp on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon, officially ending his 2025 season. According to an NFL Network report, the former Brother Martin and LSU offensive lineman suffered a Lisfranc injury on the opening series of the team's first preseason game.
Clapp was originally a seventh-round pick of the Saints back in 2018. He spent his first four professional seasons with the Saints before stints with the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills.
He signed back in New Orleans this offseason to provide depth along the interior of the offensive line. He has been the team's second string center throughout training camp, and he started the preseason game while the Saints held out usual starter Erik McCoy.
His role may now go to undrafted rookie Torricelli Simpkins, who only recently started working at center during training camp after spending most of his time at guard. Simpkins played 97 % of the team's offensive snaps Sunday against the Chargers.