Dante Pettis: Everything you need to know

Pettis brought in all five targets for 60 yards in the Saints' 19-17 loss to the Falcons on Sunday. He also returned two punts for 17 yards. Both Chris Olave (illness) and Mason Tipton (IR, groin) were unavailable Sunday, thrusting Pettis into an expanded role. The journeyman wideout/returner turned in a solid performance, tying for the team lead in receptions while falling just a yard short of doing the same in receiving yards. Pettis appeared in eight games for the Saints in 2025, generating a 9-127-0 line on 11 targets and adding 351 kickoff-return yards and 79 punt-return yards while playing out a one-year deal.

Pettis is positioned as one of the Saints' top remaining wide receivers for Sunday's season finale against the Falcons due to Chris Olave (illness) being ruled out for Week 18, Pettis and Kevin Austin appear set to operate as the Saints' top WRs in Week 18 with Olave ruled out due to a blood clot in his lung and Mason Tipton (groin) having been placed on IR. Behind Pettis and Austin, wideouts Ronnie Bell and Samori Toure have been signed from the practice squad. An experienced veteran with eight seasons in the NFL under his belt, Pettis may be the most reliable target remaining in New Orleans' wide receiver corps, though Austin has demonstrated greater chemistry with rookie QB Tyler Shough, having strung together three straight games with multiple receptions. Pettis, meanwhile, brought in three of four targets for 53 yards versus the Titans in Week 17 and stands to see his opportunity share increase versus Atlanta.

Pettis gathered in three of four targets for 53 yards during Sunday's 34-26 victory over the Titans. Pettis logged more than one target for the first time this season, as he finished tied for third on the team in this category Sunday. The 30-year-old served as the Saints' WR3 with Mason Tipton (groin) inactive. Coming into Week 17, Pettis totaled just one reception on two targets across six appearances. He could see a moderate workload again if Tipton remains sidelined in the regular-season finale versus Atlanta.