The New Orleans Saints’ backfield took another jolt Saturday, and this one could be the toughest to absorb.
Ty Chandler left the preseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a knee injury that is feared to be serious, according to NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. Chandler is still being evaluated, but Underhill said he is expected to be “down for a while.” There’s no diagnosis or recovery timetable yet, so the Saints are waiting on more testing to learn how long he might be out.
Before exiting, Chandler handled six carries for 21 yards in the Saints’ 34-0 loss. He also lost a fumble near the goal line in the second half.
The timing couldn’t be much worse for New Orleans. Alvin Kamara is expected to miss time with a sprained MCL, Devin Neal is dealing with a hamstring injury, and Kendre Miller recently returned after being sidelined by a back issue. That leaves the Saints thin in a spot that already needed help.
They did add some protection Sunday night, acquiring veteran running back Zamir White from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for linebacker Deion Jones. The move made sense before Chandler’s injury became a bigger concern, and now the extra depth looks even more valuable.
White has played in 45 regular-season games and has 736 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He spent his first four NFL seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders before joining San Francisco in August.
Chandler signed a one-year deal with the Saints this offseason after four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He also dealt with a knee injury last year and missed 14 games before returning late in the season. With roster cuts nearing and injuries stacking up, New Orleans’ running back depth chart has become one of the biggest storylines to watch.
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Saints Depth Battle Just Got Tougher At The Worst Time
The Saints depth chart took another hit this week as running back Ty Chandler and tight end Moliki Matavao were both placed on injured reserve after suffering knee injuries in the preseason game against the Rams. Both players had been in the thick of the roster competition, trying to make their case in a crowded camp as New Orleans sorts out the bottom of the roster ahead of cutdown day.
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Saints Trade Hints At A Bigger Backfield Problem Than Fans Knew
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For the Saints, the move is a reminder that the backfield picture may have been shakier than it looked on the surface. White arrives with a chance to compete in a room that needed more answers, and the trade suggests New Orleans was willing to act before the cutdown crunch made those decisions for them. Jones, meanwhile, was likely headed toward release as well, which is why this reads less like a splashy transaction and more like two teams quietly solving a problem at the same time. [Read more 🡒]