New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller needed his preseason debut to make a statement. Instead, it left more questions than answers.
Miller finished with six carries for 22 rushing yards in Saturday’s game against the Rams. He also came close to adding a 10-yard reception on a screen pass, but that play was erased by an offensive pass interference penalty on wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. Given the injuries around the position and the questions that still follow Miller himself, it was the kind of outing that could have used a lot more juice.
That’s the frustrating part for the Saints: Miller’s talent has never really been in doubt. The issue has been availability.
The former third-round pick has dealt with health problems in every one of his NFL seasons, and that history has kept him from building real momentum. Even with all the offseason talk about proving there’s more to him than the injury concerns, Saturday didn’t do much to strengthen his case.
Miller also came into the preseason a little behind the curve after missing time with a back strain. With only a handful of practices since returning, some rust was expected. Still, he hasn’t shown the steadiness needed to separate himself from the pack.
And it’s a crowded pack. Miller is one of several young Saints backs battling for a job, with Audric Estime, Devin Neal, Ty Chandler, and CJ Donaldson all in the mix.
All four were brought in by the new regime, which only makes Miller’s path tougher. They’ve all done enough to stay in the conversation, but there isn’t room for everybody.
The Saints can’t carry six running backs, including Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne, and the expectation is that only four will be on the roster heading into the 2026 season.
The picture may have shifted a bit over the last 10 days, though, because both Alvin Kamara and Estime are dealing with injuries. With a possible stint on injured reserve in play for Kamara, the next week suddenly carries real weight for Miller.
If he can knock the rust off in the next few practices and then produce against the Dallas Cowboys, he may still carve out a spot. If not, somebody else could jump him.
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Jason Whitlock used the postgame spotlight to go after that decision, criticizing the networks and framing Songs role as part of a broader shift he sees around who gets hired for these jobs. The Rams still move on to the rest of their preseason slate and then the regular season, but the buzz from this one has left an off-field debate hanging around a game the Saints would probably rather file away and forget. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Backfield Depth Just Took Another Hit With Devin Neal
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Neal had also missed time earlier in training camp with a hamstring injury, making this latest problem especially discouraging for a player trying to carve out a role. He was one of several Saints to leave the game hurt, with Lorenzo Styles, Bub Means, Moliki Matavao, Torricelli Simpkins III and Brien Taylor also dealing with injuries, adding to the sense that New Orleans is piling up absences at an inconvenient moment. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Backups Just Created A Preseason Problem Fans Cant Ignore
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Alex Cooks pick-six, Jarquez Hunters touchdown run and solid work from Wesley Bailey, Stetson Bennett, CJ Daniels, Austin Blaske and others turned the preseason meeting into a reminder of how much can swing once the starters are gone. For New Orleans, that is the part of August that matters now, because the challenge is no longer just finding flashes, but deciding which reserves can actually help when the games count. [Read more 🡒]