Saints WR Rashid Shaheed Opens TNF With Big Touchdown Catch
Oct 20, 2022, 6:36 PM | Updated: 8:16 pm
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former Weber State and current New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed opened Thursday Night Football in Week 7 with a big touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals hosted the Saints at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Thursday, October 20.
With 12:53 remaining in the first quarter, Saints quarterback Andy Dalton unloaded a deep pass to Shaheed, who got behind double coverage by the Cardinals and hauled in a catch and walked into the end zone. The former Wildcat’s reception was good for 53 yards and six points. It was Shaheed’s second touch in the league.
Okay, @RashidShaheed. WOW. Second touchdown in as many games for the former @weberstatefb star. 💨#LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #NOvsAZ #Saints #WeAreWeber @kslsports pic.twitter.com/0WDnAxgiKq
— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) October 21, 2022
After the subsequent PAT, the Saints took a 7-0 lead thanks to the big connection between Dalton and the rookie from Weber State. The score capped a four-play, 75-yard that lasted 2:07.
Following the touchdown, Dalton was 2/2 passing for 59 yards and a touchdown. Shaheed had one catch for 53 yards.
Last week, Shaheed scored a touchdown on his first career touch as an NFL player.
Special stuff from @RashidShaheed.
📰: https://t.co/ddCnzozkTq #LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #NOvsAZ #Saints #WeAreWeber #TNFonPrime @kslsports pic.twitter.com/Wmkq42Wb2n
— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) October 21, 2022
New Orleans’ game against Arizona is streamed on Prime Video.
About Rashid Shaheed
Shaheed signed with the Saints on April 30 after going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The former Wildcat reportedly received one of the top contracts for an undrafted player this season.
According to Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star, Shaheed signed a deal with the Saints that included the sixth-highest amount of guaranteed money for a UDFA signing in 2022.
Andy Dalton & Rashid Shaheed (53-yd TD)
🔹 Air Distance: 51.0 yds
🔹 Target Separation: 1.0 yd
🔹 Completion Probability: 28.5%*The pass was the @Saints most improbable TD this season, and Dalton's longest completion by air distance since Week 1, 2019.#NOvsAZ | #Saints pic.twitter.com/2oFsy6Le0f
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 21, 2022
FCS Analyst Sam Herder reported that Shaheed’s contract featured a guaranteed base salary of $207,000 and a signing bonus of $15,000.
The San Diego, CA native finished his Weber State career as the FCS all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns (seven).
In 53 games with the Wildcats, Shaheed set the Weber State all-time record for kickoff return average at 29.1 yards per return.
As a senior, Shaheed was named an FCS First Team All-American as both a kick returner and punt returner.
Shaheed is the only Weber State Wildcat to be named as an All-American four different times.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and co-host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).