Here's some good news. The New Orleans Saints welcomed back one of their most valuable special teams assets on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Safety J.T. Gray returned from a hamstring injury that sidelined him since July 28.

Now entering his eighth season with the team after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018, the three-time All-Pro is coming off arguably the best year of his career -- leading the NFL with 25 special teams tackles (16 solo). At 29, Gray continues to show no signs of slowing down.

As a team captain, his leadership will be crucial this season, especially with an influx of young talent joining the roster and major coaching changes taking place across the board. His return also brings stability to a special teams unit that's undergone plenty of turnover this offseason -- with new faces competing for core roles and a new coordinator at the helm. Phil Galiano has known Gray for most of his pro career, but the special teams ace still needs to prove himself to win a roster spot.

Getting Gray back on the field is a massive boost for the Saints' kicking units. His presence sets the tone not just for the third phase of the game, but for the entire locker room.