JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Mitchell Loewen surprised a lot of people by making the roster last year, and after a dominant performance in Thursday's preseason opener, he looks poised to compete for a role once again.
Loewen was one of the feel-good stories in 2017 as he made the initial 53-man roster after missing his entire rookie season in 2016 because of a foot injury. He's trying to have a similar bounce back this summer as he played just two games before a high-ankle sprain landed him on injured reserve.
The big difference this year is that Loewen is primarily playing defensive after competing more at defensive tackle in 2017, and that versatility should help his case.