After giving snapshots of what might have been during six seasons away from New Orleans, unrestricted free agent safety Malcolm Jenkins has returned to show, again, what can be as a Saint.
As reported by former Saint Steve Gleason, Jenkins, the New Orleans Saints' first-round draft pick in 2009, signed a four-year deal with New Orleans to return to the city where he won his first Super Bowl (XLIV, in his rookie season) and became an All-Pro in his second year.
Jenkins was a Saint from 2009-13, then signed with Philadelphia as an unrestricted free agent in 2014 and helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl (LII) during his six seasons, three in which he was named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster.
He has 17 career interceptions (six with New Orleans) and six returned for touchdowns (two as a Saint), to go along with 18 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, 96 passes defended and 873 tackles, with 159 starts in 167 games.
He'll add veteran leadership to a defensive backfield that includes fourth- and second-year safeties (Marcus Williams and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, respectively) and a fourth-year cornerback (2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore). But, too, there's the belief that Jenkins, who was drafted as a cornerback before moving to safety, has more play-making left in him.
In his last two seasons with the Eagles, Jenkins totaled 16 passes defended, forced seven fumbles, recovered two, intercepted a pass and had 178 tackles, including 142 solo.
Gleason, a Saint from 2000-06, joked on Twitter that he'd given up social media for Lent unless it was "essential news," and that Jenkins' return "is especially essential for Saints fans."
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Photos of safety Malcolm Jenkins during his first stint with the New Orleans Saints and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
