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In 68 days from today, the New Orleans Saints will take the field for their 2026 season opener. They'll do so by traveling north to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Second-year offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins wears No. 68 as the Saints prepare to open training camp.
An undrafted rookie in 2025, Simpkins played pretty well when given his opportunities. He'll now be challenged to upgrade his play to hold onto his job. For now though, we have a look at him and the other 17 players who wore a 68 uniform for New Orleans.
Richard Winther was the first to wear 68 for the Saints. As a fourth-round pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, he was also the first New Orleans draft choice to wear the number. However, he played for the Green Bay Packers in 1971 before returning to New Orleans for five games in the 1972 season. Of the 18 players who've worn 68, 15 have had it for two seasons or less, with 11 only having it for less than one season. Terry Stieve was a sixth-round choice in 1978 who was with the Saints for two years and 28 games, making 16 starts.
Richard Neal is the only defensive player to wear 68 in New Orleans. Neal was a Saint for a total of five years. He only wore 68 for two games in 1978, the final year of a 10-year NFL career. Others that had the number for only one year or less were Winther, Saindon, Housman, Walker, Jetton, Kline, Lehr, Robinson, Kelly, and Andrews.
Taking over 68 after Neal in 1978 was Fred Sturt. Quietly, Sturt played 59 games for the Saints between 1978 and 1981. It is the third longest tenure of a New Orleans player to wear the 68 jersey. Kelvin Clark took over the number after Sturt. He wore 78 in 1983, then switched to 68 for the next two seasons and a total of 17 games.
New Orleans selected Kyle Turley with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Turley is the highest draft pick by the Saints to wear a 68 jersey and by far the best to do it. Mostly a right tackle in New Orleans, his 79 games over five years are the most of any Saint to wear the number. His punishing style and intensity made him a fan favorite, but he was also one of the better blockers in the league during his tenure with New Orleans.Victor Riley followed Turley and was a Saint for three seasons. He'd take 68 in his second year after Turley's departure. Riley wore 68 for 32 games through 2003 and 2004. He made 31 starts at tackle, albeit not at the level Turley provided.
It would take a little over a decade, but Tim Lelito was the next Saint to wear 68 for over two seasons. Lelito was a versatile performer who saw time at several spots along the offensive line. His 63 games with the team, mostly as a reserve or spot starter, are second only to Turley among the Saints that have worn the 68 uniform.
In the decade since Lelito, Derrick Kelly and Josh Andrews had 68 for a combined 12 games. Torricelli Simpkins appeared in 15 contests for New Orleans as a rookie. He showed promise and has positional versatility, but will be in a heated battle to hold his spot for a second season.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 68 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 68 jersey
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An undrafted rookie in 2025, Simpkins played pretty well when given his opportunities. He'll now be challenged to upgrade his play to hold onto his job. For now though, we have a look at him and the other 17 players who wore a 68 uniform for New Orleans.
Saints History of No. 68
- C Richard Winther (1972)
- G Terry Stieve (1976-77)
- DE Richard Neal (1978)
- G Fred Sturt (1978-81)
- G Kelvin Clark (1984-85)
- G Pat Saindon (1986)
- OT Walt Housman (1987)
- G Jeff Walker (1988)
- C Paul Jetton (1992)
- OT Alan Kline (1995)
- OT Kyle Turley (1998-2002)
- OT Victor Riley (2003-04)
- G Matt Lehr (2008)
- OT William Robinson (2012)
- G Tim Lelito (2013-16)
- OT Derrick Kelly (2020)
- G Josh Andrews (2022)
- G Torricelli Simpkins III (2025-current)
Richard Winther was the first to wear 68 for the Saints. As a fourth-round pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, he was also the first New Orleans draft choice to wear the number. However, he played for the Green Bay Packers in 1971 before returning to New Orleans for five games in the 1972 season. Of the 18 players who've worn 68, 15 have had it for two seasons or less, with 11 only having it for less than one season. Terry Stieve was a sixth-round choice in 1978 who was with the Saints for two years and 28 games, making 16 starts.
Richard Neal is the only defensive player to wear 68 in New Orleans. Neal was a Saint for a total of five years. He only wore 68 for two games in 1978, the final year of a 10-year NFL career. Others that had the number for only one year or less were Winther, Saindon, Housman, Walker, Jetton, Kline, Lehr, Robinson, Kelly, and Andrews.
Taking over 68 after Neal in 1978 was Fred Sturt. Quietly, Sturt played 59 games for the Saints between 1978 and 1981. It is the third longest tenure of a New Orleans player to wear the 68 jersey. Kelvin Clark took over the number after Sturt. He wore 78 in 1983, then switched to 68 for the next two seasons and a total of 17 games.
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New Orleans selected Kyle Turley with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Turley is the highest draft pick by the Saints to wear a 68 jersey and by far the best to do it. Mostly a right tackle in New Orleans, his 79 games over five years are the most of any Saint to wear the number. His punishing style and intensity made him a fan favorite, but he was also one of the better blockers in the league during his tenure with New Orleans.Victor Riley followed Turley and was a Saint for three seasons. He'd take 68 in his second year after Turley's departure. Riley wore 68 for 32 games through 2003 and 2004. He made 31 starts at tackle, albeit not at the level Turley provided.
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It would take a little over a decade, but Tim Lelito was the next Saint to wear 68 for over two seasons. Lelito was a versatile performer who saw time at several spots along the offensive line. His 63 games with the team, mostly as a reserve or spot starter, are second only to Turley among the Saints that have worn the 68 uniform.
In the decade since Lelito, Derrick Kelly and Josh Andrews had 68 for a combined 12 games. Torricelli Simpkins appeared in 15 contests for New Orleans as a rookie. He showed promise and has positional versatility, but will be in a heated battle to hold his spot for a second season.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 68 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 68 jersey
Continue reading...
