Mathieu agreed Friday to restructure his contract with the Saints, clearing up $4.7 million in 2023 salary cap space, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Mathieu posted a career-high 91 tackles (64 solo) while suiting up for all 17 games with New Orleans in 2022, with eight passes defended and three interceptions. The veteran safety heads into his age-31 season with two years left on his deal with the Saints.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Posts career campaign in NOLA
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Mathieu recorded a career-high 91 tackles (64 solo) as well as eight passes defended, including three interceptions, while playing all 17 games in the 2022 season.
Mathieu provided instant returns after joining his hometown team this past offseason, finishing with the squad's second-most tackles behind linebacker Demario Davis (109) as well as the second-most passes defended behind cornerback Alontae Taylor (11). The 30-year-old safety also tallied at least three interceptions for the fourth year in a row, increasing his career total to 29. Mathieu was one of the few mainstays in New Orleans' banged-up secondary by playing all but two defensive snaps in the 2022 regular season. He has two years remaining on his three-year, $33 million contract with New Orleans.
Mathieu recorded 11 tackles (six solo) in Saturday's 17-10 win over the Browns.
Mathieu had his best outing Saturday in terms of stops dating back to Week 4 of 2017, when he logged 12 tackles. The veteran safety amassed a game-high 11 stops versus Cleveland, which accounts for his third double-digit tackling performance of his career, as well as his new season high in that department. Mathieu will now look to keep momentum churning and operate in his usual every-down role when the Saints travel to Philadelphia in Week 17.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Solid outing in win
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Mathieu tallied six solo tackles and two passes defended in Sunday's 21-18 win against the Falcons.
Mathieu tied strong safety Marcus Maye for the Saints' second-most passes defended Week 15, as Atlanta signal-caller Desmond Ridder went 13-for-26 passing for 97 yards during his starting debut. The 30-year-old free safety now ranks second on the team in passes defended this season (seven) behind cornerback Alontae Taylor (10), who also paced the team in this category with three Sunday. Mathieu has also recorded 70 tackles while playing just about every defensive snap through 14 games this season, and he should have a chance to set a new career high in this category if he stays healthy over the final three weeks of the regular season.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Seven tackles in loss
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Mathieu recorded seven tackles (five solo) during the Saints' 20-10 loss to the Steelers on Sunday.
Mathieu has yet to take a play off this season, playing all 79 of the Saints' defensive snaps Sunday. He was able to match his season high with seven tackles, the third time he's reached that number in 2022. The safety is now up to 50 tackles this season while also recording three pass deflections, two interceptions and a fumble recovery over the first 10 contests.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Getting $18M guaranteed in deal
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Mathieu agreed Monday on a three-year, $33 million contract with the Saints that includes $18 million fully guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Mathieu and the Saints still are ironing out some details on the contract before it's finalized, but the 29-year-old is committed to continuing his career in his hometown of New Orleans. The three-time Pro Bowler joins the team after a three-year stay in Kansas City that he concluded with a 76-tackle, three-interception effort over 16 games in 2021.
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Saints' Tyrann Mathieu: Finalizing deal with Saints
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Mathieu and the Saints agreed to terms on a deal Monday that is expected to be finalized in the coming days, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Given his status as a former LSU standout and New Orleans native, Mathieu-to-the-Saints buzz has been percolating for several weeks, but it wasn't until after the 2022 NFL Draft that the two sides were able to gain meaningful traction in contract discussions. The exact terms of Mathieu's deal may not be known for a few more days, but the 29-year-old is expected to slot in as a starter in an excellent New Orleans secondary that includes cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, free-agent safety pickup Marcus Maye and the versatile C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who is capable of moving between cornerback and safety as needed. Mathieu is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he earned his third Pro-Bowl nod after totaling 76 tackles, six pass breakups, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a sack in 16 regular-season appearances with the Chiefs.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Remains in concussion protocol
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Mathieu hasn't cleared the NFL's concussion protocol as of Saturday, but he's expected to do so in advance of Sunday's AFC Championship Game versus the Bengals, Matt Verderame of FanSided.com reports.
Mathieu sustained a head injury during last Sunday's divisional-round win against the Bills when he was accidentally kicked in the helmet by Josh Allen while tackling the quarterback on the first possession of the contest. While Mathieu didn't practice Wednesday, he returned in full Thursday and Friday, signifying that he only requires clearance from an independent neurologist to be able to play this weekend. He'll need to do so by approximately 90 minutes before Sunday's 3:00 p.m. ET kickoff to be available to the Chiefs defense.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Full participant Thursday
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Mathieu (concussion) was a full participant in Thursday's practice session, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
While coach Andy Reid indicated that Mathieu hasn't yet cleared the league's concussion protocol, it was encouraging to see him back in action without limitations Thursday. Assuming he clears the protocols in the coming days, it wouldn't be surprising to see him start in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Full participant Wednesday
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Mathieu (quadriceps) was a full participant at Wednesday's practice.
Mathieu left Sunday's blowout win over the Steelers in the second half due to a quad contusion, but coach Andy Reid said Mathieu "feels great" after going through a full practice Wednesday. Barring a setback, the star safety will likely be available when the Chiefs face the Bengals in Week 17.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Likely available Sunday
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Coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Mathieu (quadriceps) "feels great" after leaving Sunday's win over the Steelers in the second half, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.
The Chiefs were blowing the Steelers out when Mathieu was ruled out for the rest of the game, so that may have caused Kansas City to be overly cautious with the star defensive back. Reid also said that the athletic trainers were able to work on the injury right away, which may have allowed Mathieu to recover more quickly than usual. With that said, the Chiefs have yet to release their practice report, which will give a better indication of what Mathieu's status will look like for Week 17.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Done for today
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Mathieu (quadriceps) will not return Sunday against the Steelers, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.
Mathieu exited in the second half with the injury. The severity of the injury is unknown and whether Mathieu's inability to return has more to do with the score and time left in the game or the extent of the injury itself. Daniel Sorensen will likely see extra work for the remainder of the game. After the game, coach Andy Reid clarified that Mathieu's injury is a quad contusion, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic, so Mathieu is unlikely to miss additional game action as a result of the injury.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Suiting up Week 11
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Mathieu (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
The star safety was a late addition to the injury report, which naturally raised concerns about his availability for Sunday's interconference showdown. However, Mathieu will fill his usual role against a short-handed Cowboys passing game that will be down Amari Cooper (reserve/COVID-19).
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Ready for game action
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Mathieu was not listed on the Chiefs' injury report Wednesday.
Mathieu was held out of the team's opening game due to an illness, though he managed to participate in warmups prior to the contest. His absence from the injury report and full return to practice means Mathieu will be in line for his season debut in a Week 2 matchup against the Ravens.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Status in question for Sunday
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Mathieu (illness), who was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns.
Mathieu tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 1, which seemingly gave him enough time to clear all the hurdles associated with NFL protocols and get back on the active roster. He accomplished the feat just one day before the Chiefs' season opener, but perhaps the team is concerned with his conditioning due to the long layoff. Mathieu's status for Week 1 will become known approximately 90 minutes before Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Not practicing Wednesday
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Coach Andy Reid said Mathieu (illness) won't practice Wednesday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Mathieu tested positive for COVID-19 last week and was expected to rejoin the team ahead of Wednesday's practice. It's unclear if he has cleared protocols and simply isn't practicing, or if he is still under protocols, as he hasn't officially been activated off the COVID-19 list. The star safety will be in danger of missing Week 1 if he continues to be absent at practice. Armani Watts is the most likely candidate to start at safety if Mathieu is unable to go.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Could return Wednesday
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Coach Andy Reid said Mathieu (illness) remains in COVID-19 protocols, but the safety could rejoin the team ahead of Wednesday's practice, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Mathieu has been on the COVID-19 list since testing positive for the virus last week, but he could end up getting a full week of practice ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Browns. Armani Watts remains the likely candidate to start at safety should Mathieu be unable to gain clearance in time.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Healthy scratch Sunday
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Mathieu (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
It's a star-studded list of inactives Sunday, with Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill (hamstring), Sammy Watkins (calf) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) not playing. Mathieu will receive a two-week break with the Chiefs having already clinched a first-round bye for the playoffs.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Officially active Sunday
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Mathieu (hip) is active for Sunday's game versus the Dolphins.
After being limited during Friday's practice session, Mathieu has been cleared to play against the rising AFC foe. The veteran safety should handle his typical every-snap workload that has produced 57 tackles, seven pass breakups and five interceptions through 12 games.
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Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu: Questionable with hip injury
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Mathieu (hip) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Mathieu's playmaking ability will be sorely missed if he sits, as he has compiled five interceptions this season, including three in the last two games. If Mathieu can't go, the standout safety would likely be replaced by Juan Thornhill.
