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Bryce Lance Bryce Lance Sees reps with starters Tuesday
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 6:21 PM
Lance (undisclosed) returned to practice Tuesday and worked with the first-team offense in New Orleans' joint practice with Dallas, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: With Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) out several weeks and Devaughn Vele receiving a rest day Tuesday, the rookie Lance worked opposite Chris Olave as the Saints' WR2. While Vele is the favorite to open the regular season as the second wideout, Lance has a pretty clear path to early-season playing time while Tyson is sidelined. At 6-foot-3 and 204 pounds with 4.34 speed, Lance is a size-speed prospect who produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at North Dakota State before being selected in the fourth round of the 2026 Draft by New Orleans. |
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Audric Estime Audric Estime Expected to miss some time
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 6:15 PM
Estime is expected to miss some time with his ankle injury, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: While Estime has avoided a serious injury, he's going to be down for a little bit, per Jackson. It's a bad break for Estime, who is trying to win a job in the Saints' backfield that just lost Alvin Kamara (knee) to a sprained MCL. Estime is competing with the likes of Kendre Miller and Devin Neal behind Travis Etienne. Across seven regular-season appearances last season, Estime rushed 46 times for 198 yards and one touchdown. |
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Kendre Miller Kendre Miller Returns to practice, competing for snaps
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 10:17 AM
Miller (back) and Devin Neal (hamstring) returned to practice Tuesday, while teammate Alvin Kamara (knee) is expected to be out for more than a month, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Analysis: With Audric Estime (ankle) also banged up, Miller and Neal might even end up competing for the No. 2 RB job in Week 1. Such a scenario would be favorable for Travis Etienne's workload projection, as opposed to losing a chunk of the targets (and some carries) to a healthy Kamara. Before all the injuries, Miller was positioned to compete with Neal and Estime for the No. 3 RB job. |
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Devin Neal Devin Neal Returns to practice
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 10:14 AM
Neal (hamstring) and Kendre Miller (back) both returned to practice Tuesday, while teammate Alvin Kamara (knee) is expected to be out for more than a month, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Analysis: Apart from starter Travis Etienne, the Saints have had trouble keeping their running backs healthy this summer. Neal and Miller seemed to be competing with Audric Estime (ankle) for the No. 3 job, but the Week 1 depth chart beyond Etienne may be determined by health above all else. Right now, Miller and Neal are positioned to mix in for some first-team reps. |
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Travis Etienne Jr. Travis Etienne Jr. Could see larger role with Kamara sidelined
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 8:54 AM
Etienne could be in store for a heavier workload to begin the season after teammate Alvin Kamara (knee) sustained an MCL sprain during Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys, Jeff Duncan of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Kamara is expected to be sidelined for at least a month due to the knee injury, putting his availability for the Sept. 13 season opener in Detroit in jeopardy. The Saints had been listing Etienne and Kamara as co-starters on their unofficial depth chart, though Etienne always looked like the better bet to handle the brunt of the snaps on early downs after joining New Orleans on a four-year, $52 million deal in the offseason. With Kamara potentially set to miss time to begin the season or likely to be limited even if he's cleared for Week 1, Etienne could also be in store for an expanded role on passing downs until Kamara is closer to 100 percent health. The Kamara injury may also clear the way for a reserve running back such as Audric Estime (ankle), Devin Neal (hamstring) or Kendre Miller (back) to carve out a role behind Etienne, though those three players have also been banged up during training camp. |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Out for at least one month with MCL sprain
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 8:41 AM
Kamara (knee) is expected to be out for at least one month after sustaining an MCL sprain during Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The injury puts Kamara's availability in jeopardy for the Saints' Week 1 game in Detroit on Sept. 13 and may also make him a candidate to open the season on injured reserve, which would keep him out for at least New Orleans' first four contests. The Saints will likely wait and see how Kamara progresses in his recovery over the next few weeks before a clearer target for his return to practice and eventually game action comes into focus. In the event that Kamara is out to begin the season, free-agent pickup Travis Etienne would likely take on a larger share of the rushing and pass-catching volume out of the backfield, while backups such as Devin Neal (hamstring), Kendre Miller (back) or Audric Estime (ankle) could also be sprinkled into the game plan a bit more. |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Avoids serious setback but will miss weeks
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 10:13 PM
Kamara (knee) avoided a major injury but "will be out for a few weeks," Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: A knee injury forced Kamara from Tuesday's practice, and the extent of the setback is now known. Per the report Kamara "didn't tear anything," but a multi-week absence would cost him the rest of the preseason. The Saints are now pretty banged up in the backfield, with Travis Etienne being the only running back among the top four on the depth chart not carrying an injury tag. |
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Exits practice Tuesday
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 7:42 PM
Riley (groin) exited New Orleans' practice Tuesday, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: Riley suffered a groin injury, though its severity is currently unknown. The 25-year-old is expected to serve as one of the team's starting cornerbacks during the upcoming campaign, but TJ Hall and Martin Emerson could see increased playing time should Riley be forced to miss time during the regular season. |
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Devaughn Vele Devaughn Vele Had a rest day Tuesday
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 6:27 PM
Vele missed Tuesday's practice due to a planned rest day, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Analysis: Vele has had multiple rest days over the past week. With Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) set to miss the beginning of the regular season, the Saints need Vele to be healthy alongside Chris Olave in a wideout room that doesn't have a whole lot of depth. |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Dealing with knee injury
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 6:22 PM
Kamara was unable to finish Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys due to a knee injury, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: The details of Kamara's injury aren't yet known, but there's been no indication he's dealing with a serious issue. The veteran running back finalized a new deal to remain with the Saints last month and is expected to form a backfield tandem with newcomer Travis Etienne in New Orleans this season. At 31 years old, however, it's fair to wonder how much Kamara has left in the tank as a fantasy contributor. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Returns to Tuesday's practice
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 5:52 PM
Olave returned to Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys after making a brief exit during the session, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: After making a contested catch down the left sideline and falling to the turf, Olave left the field and appeared to be headed to the medical tent, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Not long afterward, though, Olave was back on the practice field and rejoined team drills, indicating this was merely a brief scare. New Orleans' receiving corps is particularly banged up at the moment, with rookie first-round pick Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) expected to miss the next two months and rookie fourth-rounder Bryce Lance (undisclosed) and Mason Tipton (leg, active/PUP) also tending to injuries. As a result, Olave being able to return to action is a positive for this position group. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Heads to medical tent during Tuesday's practice
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 5:44 PM
Olave went the medical tent during Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Analysis: Prior to his exit, Olave had been cooking Dallas' defense, making a number of catches. Having said that, after one grab down the left sideline while falling to the turf, he left the practice field with Saints trainers. It's unclear if he's dealing with any sort of injury, though, as Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reported that Olave returned to the field and was waiting for the session to resume. |
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Devaughn Vele Devaughn Vele Sitting out Tuesday's practice
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 4:24 PM
Vele (undisclosed) isn't practicing Tuesday, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Analysis: Per Paras, the reason for Vele's absence is unclear, but it's worth noting that the wideout had a rest day the other day. With Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) expected to miss time out of the gate this season, Vele, Bryce Lance (undisclosed) and Barion Brown are candidates to see added work in the offense alongside starting WR Chris Olave for however long Tyson is sidelined. |
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Jordyn Tyson Jordyn Tyson In line to miss roughly two months
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 5:31 PM
Tyson is expected to miss about two months due to the hamstring injury he suffered last week, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Per the report, Tyson sought multiple medical opinions on an injury that coach Kellen Moore indicated is separate from the one he dealt with in the spring, but the 2026 first-rounder now appears to be on track to miss time out of the gate this season. Considering the proposed length of Tyson's recovery, it could be more open-ended than the Saints are letting on, but the team will continue to evaluate the wideout's injury. Meanwhile, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football indicates that starting the campaign on IR -- which would force him to miss at least four games -- is a possibility for Tyson. In Tyson's looming absence, Devaughn Vele, Bryce Lance (undisclosed) and Barion Brown are candidates to see added reps alongside Chris Olave, the team's top healthy WR. |
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Juwan Johnson Juwan Johnson Remains top tight end
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 9:40 PM
Johnson is listed as the starting tight end on the Saints' unofficial depth chart.
Analysis: Johnson is coming off a breakout season in which he easily set career bests with 77 receptions and 889 yards, so it's little surprise that he remains the top tight end for the Saints. Now trailing him on the depth chart are offseason acquisition Noah Fant and rookie third-rounder Oscar Delp. |
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Plays in preseason opener
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 7:18 PM
Wright (shoulder) played in Saturday's 24-20 preseason loss to the Jaguars.
Analysis: Wright was dealing with a shoulder injury at practice leading up to the contest, but he was ultimately able to give it a go. The 24-year-old was on the field for 68 percent of the team's offensive snaps in the game, and he appears to be on track to operate as a top reserve at offensive guard with New Orleans this season. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Sits out preseason opener
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 5:30 PM
Olave did not play in the Saints' 24-20 preseason loss to the Jaguars on Saturday.
Analysis: Olave watched from the sidelines along with a group of New Orleans' key starters, including QB Tyler Shough, RB Travis Etienne, TE Juwan Johnson, and others. Third-year wideout Bub Means led the Saints with four catches (on five targets) for 77 yards while Zach Wilson, Hunter Dekkers, and Spencer Rattler all cycled in under center. Olave is coming off a career-best 2025 campaign when he recorded 100 catches (on 155 targets) for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns across 16 regular-season games. He also signed a four-year extension worth up to $132 million this offseason, and he should be in line for another productive season while catching passes from Shough in 2026. Olave's next chance play this preseason will come Saturday, Aug. 22 versus the Rams. |
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Barion Brown Barion Brown Excels in first professional game action
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:59 PM
Brown tallied four catches (on four targets) for 53 yards in a preseason loss to Jacksonville on Saturday.
Analysis: Brown tied for the Saints lead in receptions and finished second on the team in receiving yards behind Bub Means (77 yards). The highlight of Brown's performance was a 28-yard connection down the sideline with Zach Wilson late in the second quarter to help set up a field goal. Brown was taken by New Orleans in the sixth round of April's NFL Draft and had a chance to vie for a significant role among a Saints WR corps that lacks experience behind No. 1 option Chris Olave. New Orleans drafted both Jordyn Tyson (first round) and Bryce Lance (fourth round) ahead of Brown in the draft, but Tyson is looking iffy for Week 1 of the regular season due to a hamstring injury. |
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Oscar Delp Oscar Delp Finds end zone in preseason opener
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:50 PM
Delp caught three of six targets for 10 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's preseason loss to Jacksonville.
Analysis: Delp's touchdown came on a pass from Zach Wilson on a play from the 1-yard line. It wasn't all roses for the rookie tight end, however, as he also had multiple drops. Delp is looking to cement a spot as the Saints' No. 3 tight end behind Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant, and his TD should help his case despite the uneven performance. |
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Spencer Rattler Spencer Rattler Uneven performance in preseason start
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:12 PM
Rattler went 8-for-11 on pass attempts for 42 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in a preseason loss to the Jaguars on Saturday.
Analysis: Rattler's completion percentage was fine, but he averaged only 3.8 yards per attempt, and his longest completion went for just nine yards. He also was sacked twice, with one sack resulting in a lost fumble, and all of his completions came on his final drive of the game during the second quarter. Tyler Shough, who is projected to start behind center for New Orleans this season, didn't play, and Zach Wilson had arguably the most impressive QB performance for the Saints on Saturday by completing 11 of 16 pass attempts for 145 yards and a touchdown. Per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football, New Orleans is expected to play mostly backups again next Saturday versus the Rams in the team's second preseason contest, so Rattler may have another chance to start and potentially make a positive impression. |
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