The Saints have parted ways with Audric Estime through an injury settlement, opening the door for the running back to catch on with another team once he’s recovered from a thigh injury.
ESPN’s Katherine Terrell reported Tuesday that New Orleans waived Estime from injured reserve with the settlement, a move that lets him keep rehabbing while also giving him a chance to play elsewhere when he’s healthy again.
It’s a tough break for a player who had flashed enough this summer to look like he was climbing the depth chart. Estime had been running hard and, at least for a stretch, seemed to be moving ahead of names like Kendre Miller and CJ Donaldson. But the timing of the injury changed everything, and the Saints had other options start to settle into place.
Alvin Kamara is healthy again, and Donaldson has carved out a role as a blocker with some short-yardage value. Miller was even a healthy scratch in Week 2’s upset win over the Baltimore Ravens. With Zamir White on the practice squad and Travis Etienne Jr. still listed at the top of the depth chart - though Kamara got more touches against the Ravens - the Saints apparently felt comfortable moving on from Estime for now.
Injury settlements are basically a buyout. Teams offer the player money equal to what he would have earned while on injured reserve, and if there’s disagreement about the recovery timeline, that can sometimes go to arbitration after a second opinion. The arrangement helps teams reduce the burden on their medical staff and gives the player cash up front, plus the chance to land somewhere else once he’s ready.
Estime can still re-sign with the Saints after he’s cleared, but NFL rules make him wait an extra three weeks after the settlement period ends before returning to the same team. So if the settlement covers six weeks of recovery, he would have to wait nine weeks before he could sign back with New Orleans.
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