Former Tulane kicker Santos, ex-LSU punter Jones sign with NFL’s Los Angeles teams

The Los Angeles Rams have signed former Tulane All-American kicker Cairo Santos, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday.

The Rams also worked out former Saints kicker Kai Forbath on Tuesday but opted to go with Santos to replace Sam Ficken. Los Angeles lost Greg Zuerlein to injury but Ficken struggled to replace him.

Santos had his career derailed by groin injury after several solid seasons with the Chiefs. The Lou Groza winner was waived-injured by the Jets in the preseason.

Staying in So Cal, the Los Angeles Chargers brought former All Pro punter Donnie Jones out of retirement to replace Drew Kaser.

The 38-year old former LSU and Catholic of Baton Rouge standout enters his 15th campaign in the NFL.

Drafted by Seahawks in 7th round in the ’04 draft, Jones was the punter for the 2003 National Champion LSU Tigers, punting for a 42.1 yard average that season. He also was the punter for the Super Bowl LII Champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Jones retired Feb. 27, 2018 following the Super Bowl win and requested his official release from the Eagles in April, making him a free agent. He has been retired almost seven months.

The Chargers released Kaser despite an impressive 48.4 yard average per punt, but he was inconsistent holding for place kicks for Caleb Sturgis, who has a history with Jones. Sturgis connected on 85 percent of his field goals with Jones as his holder while in Philadelphia from 2015 to 2017. The Chargers are also currently second to last in the NFL with a 34.9 yard net punting average.

Jones, nicknamed “Bag of Bones,” “Donnie Long Ball” and “Donnie J’Owns” over the years, had a 45.4 yard average while with the Eagles and excelled at dropping his offerings inside the opponents’ 20 yard line.

NEW DIGS: The Saints recently released RB Jonathan Williams, but the former Arkansas star has been added to the Colts practice squad. Williams played in 14 NFL games with Buffalo and New Orleans, appearing in three contests with the Black ‘n Gold this season.

SAINTSATIONAL: The Monday Night matchup this week features Saints running back Alvin Kamara, the NFL’s total yards from scrimmage leaders, and Redskins back Adrian Peterson. The latter has tallied 236 yards rushing this season (4.2 average) with three scores.

New Orleans wide receiver Michael Thomas paces the entire NFL with 42 catches and ranks fourth in yardas with 445.

DOUBLE D: Saints offseason acquisition Demario Davis is now second in the NFC with 37 tackles.

The leading tackler in the NFL is Colts rookie Darius Leonard, a second round pick out of South Carolina State. He has 54 tackles and four sacks as a middle linebacker in just four games.