Saints Secondary Faces Another Shake-Up with Justin Reid Injury
The New Orleans Saints are bracing for yet another hit to an already battered secondary, as safety Justin Reid is expected to miss at least some time following an injury suffered against the Miami Dolphins. While offensive coordinator Kellen Moore didn’t offer much detail in his Monday media session, his tone suggested that Reid’s absence could stretch beyond just a week.
“We’ll see how that progresses,” Moore said. “Obviously, potential for some missed time there, but we’ll let it progress.”
That’s not a definitive timetable, but when a coach opens the door to missed time, it usually means the team is preparing for life without a key contributor-at least in the short term.
Losing More Than Just a Safety
Reid’s absence isn’t just about the physical talent he brings to the field. It’s about leadership.
After Tyrann Mathieu’s sudden retirement, Reid became the voice of the Saints’ secondary-both in the locker room and on the field. He brought a calming presence and a veteran's understanding of the game that helped anchor a young, evolving unit.
Now, with Reid sidelined, that leadership mantle may fall to Jonas Sanker. That’s a big ask for a young player still finding his footing in the NFL.
Sanker has shown promise, but being the glue guy in the back end of a defense is a different kind of responsibility. Communication, alignment, and assignment discipline all run through the safety position-especially when you’re the one calling the shots.
A Secondary in Flux
This isn’t the first time the Saints have had to pivot in the secondary this season-and it’s not even the first major injury at safety. Julian Blackmon, who was originally brought in to fill the void left by Mathieu, suffered a season-ending injury in the opener. That forced the Saints to accelerate Sanker's development, and to his credit, he’s stepped up in a big way.
Still, the unit looks nothing like what the Saints envisioned back in training camp. Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor are now the only healthy defensive backs left from the original core group. The rest of the depth chart has been patched together with rookies and midseason adjustments.
One of the more pleasant surprises has been Quincy Riley. Early on, fans were clamoring for him to get more snaps-initially because it would mean less of Isaac Yiadom, a move tied to compensatory pick strategy.
But Riley’s play has flipped that narrative. Now, fans want him on the field because of what he’s doing between the lines.
He’s earned that trust.
Next Man Up: Howden or Burgess?
With Reid out, the Saints have two main options to fill his spot on the field: Jordan Howden and Terrell Burgess. Howden got the initial nod after Reid went down, but he was back to special teams duty in the second half. That opened the door for Burgess, who came in and made the most of his opportunity.
Burgess, who has past ties with Brandon Staley, might not be a household name, but he showed why the Saints trust him. His pass breakup in the second half-running step-for-step with the receiver before making a clean play on the ball-was the kind of moment that earns you more snaps. If that’s any indication, he could be the frontrunner to start while Reid recovers.
That said, don’t rule out a rotation. The Saints could opt to use both Burgess and Howden situationally, especially if they’re trying to keep things flexible on the back end.
Big Picture: Can the Saints Hold the Line?
The immediate concern is clear: without Reid, the Saints are more vulnerable to explosive plays over the top. His experience and instincts have helped cover for some of the youth and inexperience around him. Without that safety net, the margin for error shrinks.
The Buccaneers loom large on the schedule, and if there’s one thing to watch, it’s how this secondary handles deep shots. The Saints can’t afford breakdowns in coverage, especially with playoff positioning still very much in play.
This is a test-not just of depth, but of resilience. The Saints’ secondary has already been through a lot this season. Now, they’ll have to dig even deeper.