Gayle Benson turns up the heat on Saints, NFC South roundup

There were no games on the NFC South slate yesterday, but plenty happened off the field. In New Orleans, owner Gayle Benson is turning up the pressure after a rough start, while Atlanta monitors its starting quarterback’s health and Carolina retools its depth chart. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, picked up a bit of national respect in this week’s predictions.

Saints feeling direct pressure from Gayle Benson

The New Orleans Saints sit at the bottom of the division at 1-4, and patience is wearing thin. CBS Sports reports that owner Gayle Benson has voiced frustration with the team’s record and emphasized a need for urgency to improve, putting heat on both the coaching staff and the roster amid a three-game losing streak.

According to Pro Football Rumors, Benson views the team’s recent performance level as unacceptable. The outlet notes that New Orleans showed early promise with a strong second half to force overtime against Detroit in Week 1 and an upset win in Baltimore, only to follow that with three straight losses, including a rout at the hands of the Falcons in a national TV spot.

Falcons cautiously optimistic on Michael Penix Jr.

In Atlanta, where the Falcons sit at 2-3, focus is on quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s status. Pro Football Rumors reports that Penix suffered a rib injury late in the team’s Week 5 loss, but both the quarterback and the organization are hopeful it will not become a long-term issue. The team is optimistic he will be available for Week 6, a key piece of news in a division where no one has separated in the standings.

Panthers reshuffle depth; Bucs get an upset nod

The 2-2 Carolina Panthers are busy making adjustments. Per Pro Football Rumors, the team opened 21-day practice windows for right tackle Taylor Moton, defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton and running back Trevor Etienne, while placing defensive tackle Cam Jackson on injured reserve with a shoulder issue.

On the practice squad front, Pro Football Rumors also notes that Carolina signed cornerback Robert Rochell and released edge rusher Cam Gill, fine-tuning depth as the Panthers navigate an up-and-down start.

For the 1-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there were no roster moves, but they did receive a small boost in perception. In his Week 6 picks at CBS Sports, Pete Prisco is calling for Tampa Bay to upset the Pittsburgh Steelers. For a struggling team, that kind of outside confidence could provide a minor spark heading into the weekend.