NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints placed Rashid Shaheed on injured reserve after the starting receiver had what is expected to be season-ending knee surgery on Thursday.
Shaheed, whose 349 yards and three touchdowns receiving led the Saints in both categories through six games, needed meniscus surgery, coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday.
The third-year pro, who was undrafted out of Weber State, was the Saints' top deep threat, with three touchdowns of 43 yards or longer this season. He also returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown during Sunday's 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
His absence coincides with that of starting receiver Chris Olave, who entered the concussion protocol early in last Sunday's game after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet hit.
With Shaheed removed from the active roster, the Saints added receivers Jermaine Jackson and Equanimeous St. Brown to the active roster in advance of Thursday night's game against the Denver Broncos, which New Orleans entered on a four-game losing streak.
Also inactive against Denver were quarterback Derek Carr (oblique), guard Cesar Ruiz (knee), linebacker Pete Werner (hamstring), defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (back), tight end Taysom Hill (ribs) and running back Jordan Mims.
The Broncos activated three players from injured reserve for the game: outside linebacker Baron Browning, cornerback Damarri Mathis and offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey.
The Broncos deactivated cornerback Pat Surtain II (concussion), cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, offensive tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle), tight end Greg Dulcich, linebacker Dondrea Tillman and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New Orleans Saints' Rashid Shaheed (22) gestures while returning a punt for a touchdown past Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Jake Camarda (5) during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his family waved to a crowd of flag-waving New Year’s well-wishers gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday.
Standing with his wife Masako and the rest of the royal family, he wished a happy new year to people lined up below the palace balcony, some shouting, “banzai" — Japanese for "long live.”
The annual New Year’s appearance by the emperor and his family draws huge crowds to the palace’s usually cloistered grounds in central Tokyo.
People stand in long lines, weathering the cold, for each of the five appearances during the day, as the imperial family remains relatively popular.
The emperor does not have political power but holds symbolic significance for Japan. He and his family are longtime advocates for peace, although World War II was fought in the name of Naruhito’s grandfather Hirohito.
In a statement released in advance, Naruhito noted that last year marked 80 years since the end of that war. He stressed the importance of the message of peace, given that war and strife continued in parts of the world.
“I deeply feel it’s important to continue with efforts among people for dialogue, trying to deepen mutual understanding, so we can build a world of peace,” he said in the statement.
In both the statement and comments Friday, he spoke about recent natural disasters such as earthquakes, heavy rainfall and snow, and forest fires.
In 2024, the annual appearance was canceled because of a New Year’s Day quake in the Noto Peninsula, a coastal area in central Japan, which killed hundreds of people. In 2021 and 2022, it got canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Princess Aiko, the imperial couple's only child, appeared with her parents at this year’s greeting, as did other relatives. She is at the center of a national debate about rules allowing only men to inherit to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
The presence of Naruhito’s nephew, Hisahito, also drew attention, as he now takes part in adult imperial events and is a possible heir to the throne. He is second in line after his father, the emperor’s brother.
Akihito, Naruhito’s father and emperor emeritus who abdicated in 2019, was also there with his wife Michiko, the emperor’s mother.
Yuri Kageyama is on Threads https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama
Japan's Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito, daughter and son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Emperor Naruhito greets well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
