NFL CAREER – After signing as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2022 campaign, the former University of Utah standout has been a valued member of the special teams units in his first three seasons with New Orleans, while also providing depth at linebacker. Over three seasons, he has appeared in 27 games, totaling 18 tackles (12 solo) and one sack to go along with nine stops and a forced fumble on special teams. In 2024, Sewell battled back from an ACL injury suffered in Week 17 of the 2023 season to appear in seven games with one start at linebacker, adding eight tackles (five solo), one sack, two stops for loss and four special teams stops.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Activated from Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform, 11/16/24; Placed on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform, 8/27/24; Placed on Active/Physically Unable to Perform, 7/18/24; Placed on Injured Reserve, 1/5/24; Signed to a reserve/future contract, 1/9/23; Re-signed to practice squad, 12/20/22; Waived, 12/17/22; Standard practice squad elevation, 11/10/22; Signed to the practice squad, 8/31/22; Waived, 8/30/22; Agreed to terms with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent, 5/1/22.
2024 – Returned to play the final seven contests after recovering from offseason knee surgery, totaling eight stops (five solo), one sack, two stops for loss and four coverage tackles. Voted by teammates as club's winner of Ed Block Courage Award…Made his season debut Week 11, contributing on special teams vs. Cleveland, Nov. 17…Added a special teams tackle vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 1…Recorded two coverage stops vs. Las Vegas, Dec. 29…Made first start at linebacker, tying his career-high of eight tackles (five solo), his first career sack and two stops for loss at Tampa Bay, 1/5/25. 2023 – Played in 16 games on special teams while seeing time at LB, totaling ten tackles (seven solo) and adding five coverage stops and a forced fumble that was recovered on a punt play and returned for a touchdown by teammate D'Marco Jackson…Recorded two tackles on special teams vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 1…Played on special teams and at LB at Houston, Oct. 15, recording the first solo tackle of his career…Had one special teams stop in win at Indianapolis, Oct. 29…Played on special teams and posted one tackle at Atlanta, Nov. 26…Rotated in at WLB and on special teams, recording a career-high and tying a team-high with eight tackles (five solo), including two stops for loss in victory vs. Carolina, Dec. 10…Rotated in at WLB and special teams in win vs, N.Y. Giants, Dec. 17, posting one solo tackle and a forced fumble on a punt that was recovered and returned for a TD by Jackson…Played on defense and special teams at Tampa Bay, Dec. 31. Left in second quarter with a season-ending knee injury. 2022 – Appeared in four games on special teams for New Orleans, contributing on coverage units, while spending remainder of season on practice squad.
COLLEGE – In three seasons with Utah, Sewell played in 21 games with 18 starts and posted 143 tackles (89 solo) with 13 stops for loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and five pass breakups…Prior to his time at Utah, Sewell spent two seasons at Nevada, appearing in 23 games with 19 starts and recorded 113 tackles (64 solo) with two interceptions, four pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble…Played in 13 games with 12 starts in 2021. Named an Associated Press first-team All-Pac 12 selection, when he recorded 89 tackles (54 solo) with one interception and one forced fumble. Had three games with ten-plus tackles. Finished with eight tackles in the Rose Bowl vs. sixth-ranked Ohio State…Started all five games in COVID-19 shortened 2020 season and earned Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention honors. Ranked second on the team with 40 tackles (27 solo), two interceptions, two passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries…Arrived as a walk-on before earning a scholarship in 2019 camp and played in three games with one start vs. Texas in the Alamo Bowl, where he posted a season-high six stops…Started 11 games at safety as a sophomore at Nevada in 2018. Finished with 53 tackles (32 solo), one pick, one pass defense and one fumble recovery…Played in all 12 games with eight starts as a true freshman in 2017. Recorded 58 tackles (32 solo), 4.5 stops for a loss, three passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Earned Nevada's "Hustle Award" (special teams)…International Studies major.
PERSONAL: Prepped at Desert Hills (St. George, Utah) HS…A two-time first-team All-State selection…Played RB, CB, and KR in his prep days…Helped lead the team to the Utah state championship as a senior in 2016…Brother, Gabriel played linebacker at Nevada from 2016-19…Brothers, Penei and Noah, both played at Oregon…Penei is a member of the Detroit Lions after getting selected seventh overall in the 2021 NFL Draft…Noah was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft…Born in American Samoa on 12/19/98 and moved to United States in 2012.
