New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has signed wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster, signed wide receiver Jha'Quan Jackson to the practice squad, and waived wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

Austin Jr., 6-2, 200, was originally signed as undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars following the 2022 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. After spending time on the practice squad with Jacksonville (2022-23), the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native signed with New Orleans during 2024 training camp. In his career, he has appeared in nine games with two starts, including one appearance in 2025, recording 11 receptions for 151 yards (13.7 avg.).

In 2024, after spending the first eight weeks on the practice squad, the former Notre Dame standout stepped up to provide the Saints offense another weapon after injuries to fellow wideouts Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. In four seasons with the Fighting Irish (2018-21), he played in 26 games with 13 starts and finished with 54 receptions for 996 yards (18.4 avg.) and seven scores. In 2021, started all 13 games he played in, recording 48 receptions for 888 yards (18.5 avg.) with seven TDs, earning first-team Phil Steele All-Independent honors.

Jackson, 5-9, 188, returns to his home state after originally being selected by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft (182nd overall) out of Tulane. With Tennessee, the Luling, La. native served as a return specialist in 2024, playing in 12 games and posting career totals of 28 punt returns for 215 yards and 16 kick returns for 412 yards. He also caught one pass on offense for eight yards.

Jackson played five seasons at Tulane (2018-23), appearing in 55 games and recording 109 receptions for 1,743 yards with 17 touchdowns. On special teams, he returned 60 punts for 677 yards with a score and 36 kickoffs for 772 yards. During his graduate season with the Green Wave (2023), he finished the season with 26 catches for 439 yards and four touchdown catches, earning All-AAC third team honors at punt returner after bringing back nine punts for 110 yards with a long return of 36 yards. At Hahnville High, Jackson starred in football, baseball and track, leading the Tigers to a spot in the 2017 Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Non-Select Prep Classic Championship.