In a surprising move, the New Orleans Saints released their starting cornerback Keenan Lewis Friday night, according to multiple reports.

Lewis, a New Orleans native who grew up on the Westbank, posted the following message on his Instagram account.

Lewis sustained a hip/groin injury last season that never seemed to fully heal.

After signing with the Saints in 2013, Lewis was one of the best players on the team in his first two seasons in New Orleans, starting every game.

Last season, he only started 6, missing multiple games and struggling to find his top form of previous years due to the injury.

Despite cutting ties with Lewis, the Saints owe him $2.7 million this season. He'll carry a $6.3 cap number, resulting in $7,200,000 in dead money from his contract this season.

With the departure of Lewis, second year corner P.J. Williams sits atop the depth chart at CB, opposite Delvin Breaux.

Williams has had a solid training camp, but has yet to take an NFL regular season snap after being placed IR during the 2015 preseason.

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