Highland back with New Orleans Saints

Chris Highland
Chris Highland (center) resigned with the New Orleans Saints on Monday. (Photo courtesy Chris Highland/Twitter)

By Eric Stock

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.VA. – The New Orleans Saints are giving former Illinois State long snapper Chris Highland a second shot.

The team announced on Monday that it had resigned the Bloomington native to the 90-man roster as the team prepares for its first preseason game at New England on Thursday.

Highland signed with the Saints in July 2015 but did not make the 53-man roster when the season started. He resigned in May 2016 and was later released before being signed on Monday to compete for a spot on the Saints’ depth chart as long snapper.

Saints coach Sean Payton announced on Monday the team has cut wide receiver Hakeem Nicks on Saturday.

Highland, 24, was a two-time All-America selection by the Associated Press during his senior season and helped the Redbirds to a second-place finish in the FCS playoffs in 2015. He also played on Central Catholic’s state championship team in 2008.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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