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Kevin Austin Kevin Austin Draws nine targets in Week 18 loss
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:39 PM
Austin caught four of nine targets for 37 yards in Sunday's 19-17 loss to the Falcons.
Analysis: With Chris Olave (blood clots) out for the regular-season finale, Austin filled the role of WR1 for Tyler Shough and drew a team-high nine targets. Austin ended up appearing in eight games for the Saints this season and finished with 13 catches for 140 yards and his first career touchdown. The 25-year-old is under contract through the 2026 campaign but likely won't be guaranteed a roster spot next summer. |
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Ronnie Bell Ronnie Bell Catches TD in Week 18 loss
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 8:48 PM
Bell posted two receptions (on four targets) for 23 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 19-17 loss to Atlanta.
Analysis: Bell hauled in the lone passing touchdown from Tyler Shough, connecting for a 16-yard touchdown that pulled the score to 19-17 with just over one minute remaining. The third-year wideout filled in for the Saints' depleted receiving corps, as Chris Olave (illness) was inactive while five other wideouts were on IR. Bell still finished with fewer targets than wide receivers Kevin Austin (nine) and Dante Pettis (five) as well as tight end Juwan Johnson (five) and running back Audric Estime (five). In 28 career regular-season appearances, Bell has now accumulated 10 catches for 113 yards and four touchdowns. He joined the Saints' practice squad in early October before signing with the active roster this past Friday. |
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Evan Hull Evan Hull Logs two carries Week 18
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 8:35 PM
Hull totaled two rushes for 11 yards during Sunday's 19-17 defeat against the Falcons.
Analysis: Hull once again played second fiddle behind Audric Estime, who tallied 21 carries for 63 yards. The Saints were without their top three running backs over the final three weeks of the regular season, as Alvin Kamara (knee) remained inactive while Kendre Miller (knee) and Devin Neal (hamstring) finished the year on IR. Hull tallied just nine carries over this span, finishing the 2025 campaign with 19 rushing attempts for 48 yards over six appearances. He joined the Saints' practice squad in late October before being signed to the active roster Nov. 25. |
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Kevin Austin Kevin Austin Top target in Week 18 loss
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 8:26 PM
Austin compiled four receptions (on nine targets) for 37 yards during Sunday's 19-17 defeat versus the Falcons.
Analysis: Austin led the Saints in targets with No. 1 wide receiver Chris Olave (illness) inactive. The second-year wideout tallied four more than the next closest trio of pass-catchers in Dante Pettis, Audric Estime and Juwan Johnson. This caps off a solid close to the season for Austin, as he stepped up in an injury-riddled wide receiver room, totaling 13 catches (on 22 targets) for 140 yards and one touchdown. After two seasons spent between New Orleans' practice squad and active roster, Austin has now accumulated 291 receiving yards in 16 career regular-season appearances. |
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Dante Pettis Dante Pettis Records 60 receiving yards in loss
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:59 PM
Pettis brought in all five targets for 60 yards in the Saints' 19-17 loss to the Falcons on Sunday. He also returned two punts for 17 yards.
Analysis: Both Chris Olave (illness) and Mason Tipton (IR, groin) were unavailable Sunday, thrusting Pettis into an expanded role. The journeyman wideout/returner turned in a solid performance, tying for the team lead in receptions while falling just a yard short of doing the same in receiving yards. Pettis appeared in eight games for the Saints in 2025, generating a 9-127-0 line on 11 targets and adding 351 kickoff-return yards and 79 punt-return yards while playing out a one-year deal. |
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Juwan Johnson Juwan Johnson Team-high yardage in finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:37 PM
Johnson secured three of five targets for 61 yards in the Saints' 19-17 loss to the Falcons on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.
Analysis: The veteran tight end led the Saints in receiving yards while also securing a team-high 28-yard grab. Johnson had an opportunity for extra targets due to the absences of both Chris Olave (illness) and Mason Tipton (IR, groin), but Tyler Shough ended up spreading the ball around to seven different pass catchers overall. Johnson finished the 2025 season with a career-best 77 receptions and 889 receiving yards, and he totaled three touchdowns for the second consecutive season. Given the rapport Johnson flashed with Shough over the second half of the season, the former will head into 2026 with a very encouraging fantasy outlook |
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Tyler Shough Tyler Shough Strong finish to rookie campaign
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:14 PM
Shough completed 23 of 35 passes for 259 yards with one touchdown and one interception while rushing three times for 34 yards and another score in the Saints' 19-17 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
Analysis: Shough was able to head into the offseason with yet another encouraging outing, capping off a second half of the season in which the 2025 second-round pick cemented himself as the Saints' starter heading into 2026. Shough opened New Orleans' scoring with a one-yard run late in the second quarter, and he went on to add a 16-yard scoring toss with just over a minute remaining that featured a nifty one-handed catch from Ronnie Bell. Shough finished his rookie season having completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,384 yards and a 10:6 TD:INT while adding a 45-186-3 rushing line across 11 games. |
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Audric Estime Audric Estime Plays workhorse role in loss
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 3:52 PM
Estime rushed 21 times for 63 yards and brought in all five targets for 43 yards in the Saints' 19-17 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
Analysis: With Alvin Kamara (knee) sidelined once again to close out the season, Estime easily paced the Saints' ground attack in carries and rushing yards for a second straight week. The second-year pro was much less efficient than during his 14-carry, 94-yard performance against the Titans in Week 17, but Estime helped make up for it with an impressive day as a pass catcher. Estime put some good play on tape over the last two games, and with Kamara's future uncertain, it's possible Estime enters the final year of his deal with New Orleans in position to compete for significant playing time in 2026. |
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Taysom Hill Taysom Hill Departs Week 18 with shoulder issue
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 2:28 PM
Hill (shoulder) is questionable to return to Sunday's matchup against Atlanta.
Analysis: Hill exited in the third quarter of the Saints' season finale. Per the broadcast, he took off his pads and headed to the locker room after getting hurt. The veteran tight end recorded three catches on three targets for 32 yards prior to his departure. Moliki Matavao will likely work as New Orleans' No. 2 tight end behind Juwan Johnson for as long as Hill remains out. |
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Spencer Rattler Spencer Rattler Unavailable Week 18
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:39 AM
Rattler (finger) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: Rattler continues to deal with a thumb injury to his throwing hand and will be in street clothes for the Saints' regular-season finale. Rattler started the first eight games of the season, completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,586 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. However, he was benched in favor of Tyler Shough, who has outperformed expectations thus far, leaving Rattler's future with New Orleans uncertain. |
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Nyheim Miller-Hines Nyheim Miller-Hines Elevated for Week 18
Sat, Jan 3, 2026, 3:02 PM
The Saints elevated Hines from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Hines is set to participate in his first game for the Saints this season, serving as the No. 3 running back due to the absence of Alvin Kamara (MCL). Audric Estime will likely see the most offensive snaps, with Evan Hull and Hines receiving rotational snaps when it is deemed necessary. |
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Jake Haener Jake Haener Elevated as potential backup
Sat, Jan 3, 2026, 2:57 PM
The Saints elevated Haener from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Haener has spent most of the season on the Saints' practice squad. Due to backup quarterback Spencer Rattler (finger) being listed as questionable for Sunday's game, Haener will likely be the replacement if needed. The 26-year-old would be set to back up rookie Tyler Shough if Rattler ends up being inactive for Week 18. |
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Spencer Rattler Spencer Rattler Questionable for Sunday
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 3:37 PM
Rattler (finger) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons, Jeff Nowak of WWL Radio reports.
Analysis: Rattler has been fulfilling his role as the Saints' backup quarterback since rookie Tyler Shough was named the starter for Week 9 and beyond. The backup has not practiced since Week 16 due to a thumb injury on his throwing hand, which has left the Saints with just Taysom Hill healthy as a depth option as they end the season. Rattler's inability to practice with the injury for consecutive weeks means Hill could potentially play a role at quarterback in Sunday's contest if Shough were to need to leave the game for any reason. |
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Dante Pettis Dante Pettis Looks set to start Week 18
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:39 PM
Pettis is positioned as one of the Saints' top remaining wide receivers for Sunday's season finale against the Falcons due to Chris Olave (illness) being ruled out for Week 18,
Analysis: Pettis and Kevin Austin appear set to operate as the Saints' top WRs in Week 18 with Olave ruled out due to a blood clot in his lung and Mason Tipton (groin) having been placed on IR. Behind Pettis and Austin, wideouts Ronnie Bell and Samori Toure have been signed from the practice squad. An experienced veteran with eight seasons in the NFL under his belt, Pettis may be the most reliable target remaining in New Orleans' wide receiver corps, though Austin has demonstrated greater chemistry with rookie QB Tyler Shough, having strung together three straight games with multiple receptions. Pettis, meanwhile, brought in three of four targets for 53 yards versus the Titans in Week 17 and stands to see his opportunity share increase versus Atlanta. |
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Samori Toure Samori Toure Promoted Friday
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:31 PM
Toure signed with the Saints' active roster Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: The 27-year-old's last in-game action came with the Packers in 2023, when he appeared in 11 contests and caught eight of 18 targets for 78 yards. Now in New Orleans, Toure is expected to operate as one of the Saints' top wideouts in the Week 18 matchup against the Falcons, playing alongside Kevin Austin, Dante Pettis and Ronnie Bell. |
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Kevin Austin Kevin Austin Stepping into key role Week 18
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:29 PM
Austin is positioned as one of New Orleans' top starting wideouts for Sunday's season finale against the Falcons due to Chris Olave (illness) being ruled out for Week 18.
Analysis: Austin has already played more than 80 percent of offensive snaps in back-to-back games, in which span he's secured six of eight targets for 70 yards and one score. He saw those expanded opportunities due to the absence of Mason Tipton (groin), who has since been placed on IR. With Olave now also out for the regular-season finale due a blood clot in his lung, Austin appears positioned as the No. 1 wideout for a receiving corps that also includes Dante Pettis and practice-squad players Ronnie Bell and Samori Toure. Austin will work to make the most of his elevated opportunity versus Atlanta and continue demonstrating chemistry with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. |
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Ronnie Bell Ronnie Bell Joins active roster
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:27 PM
Bell signed with the Saints' active roster Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: The third-year pro from Michigan will join the Saints' active roster for the second consecutive week after failing to record an offensive statistic across nine total snaps (seven on special teams, two on offense) in the Week 17 win over the Titans. Bell is expected to operate as one of New Orleans' top wideouts in Sunday's matchup against the Falcons, as Chris Olave (blood clots), Mason Tipton (groin), Trey Palmer (ankle), Devaughn Vele (shoulder), Bub Means (lower leg) and Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder) will all be sidelined. |
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Jack Stoll Jack Stoll Moves to IR
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:14 PM
Stoll (knee) was placed on the injured reserve list Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: The 27-year-old had already been ruled out for Sunday's season finale against the Falcons due to a knee injury, but he's now been placed on IR. Across 15 appearances in 2025, Stoll caught six of 11 targets for 46 yards and one touchdown while operating as one of New Orleans' top reserve tight ends. Expect the Saints' tight-end room to consist of Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill, and Moliki Matavao in the Week 18 divisional matchup. |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Out again
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 1:19 PM
Kamara (knee/ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Kamara hasn't practiced since suffering an MCL sprain in late November. He'll now miss a sixth straight game to close out the season, leaving Audric Estime in the lead role after New Orleans lost Kendre Miller (ACL) and Devin Neal (hamstring) to season-ending injuries. Kamara is under contract for one more season, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be back with the Saints in 2026, as only $3 million of his $11.5 million base salary is guaranteed. Kamara will turn 31 in July and has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons, so he could be looking at a reduced role even if he sticks around in New Orleans. |
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Mason Tipton Mason Tipton Headed to IR
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 1:14 PM
The Saints are placing Tipton (groin) on injured reserve ahead of Sunday's Week 18 matchup with Atlanta, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Tipton will miss a second straight game to end the season, losing an opportunity at a top-three role with the Saints' receiving corp in a depleted state. Chris Olave also will miss Week 18 due to a blood clot in his lung, leaving Kevin Austin and Dante Pettis as the Saints' top wide receivers. They'll need practice-squad call-ups to help out this Sunday and could also deploy TEs Taysom Hill or Moliki Matavao in larger-than-usual roles. Tipton, a 2024 UDFA, finishes his second NFL season with 11 catches for 76 yards. He caught 14 passes for 99 yards as a rookie, with a similar trajectory in terms of only getting snaps after other WRs were injured. Tipton likely will need to fight for his roster spot in 2026. |
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