The Saints’ roster cuts on Sunday came with a heavy injury list attached, and a pair of young players who had been building real momentum were among the names moved to season-ending injured reserve.
New Orleans placed five players on injured reserve without a return designation, which means none of them can play for the Saints in the regular season or postseason. The group included running back Devin Neal, edge defender Mike Heldman, defensive back Dalys Beanum, cornerback David Long Jr. and offensive tackle Barry Wesley.
Neal’s setback was the most notable. The Saints’ sixth-round pick from last year’s draft had been fighting for a spot in a crowded backfield behind Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara, but a hamstring injury in the preseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams changed that quickly. He also dealt with two separate hamstring injuries in the buildup to the regular season.
Heldman was another encouraging name to get caught up in the final cutdown. The undrafted rookie flashed as a pass rusher during training camp and the preseason, making him one of the more intriguing young defenders in the mix.
The Saints did use their two available return designations during roster cuts, keeping those spots for receiver Jordyn Tyson and linebacker Jaylan Ford.
There is still the possibility of injury settlements for any of the players placed on IR if their injuries are ultimately not viewed as season-ending.
At running back, New Orleans kept four players: Audric Estime and Kendre Miller joined Etienne and Kamara on the roster after Neal’s injury altered the picture.
In Other News...
Saints Make A Surprising Secondary Cut Fans Didn't See Coming
The Saints trimmed their roster to 53 by waiving safety Terrell Burgess, a move that stood out because he had been part of the defense throughout the season and appeared in all 16 games last year. Burgess brought veteran depth to the secondary, and his release fit a larger picture in New Orleans as the team continues reshaping the back end of the defense.
Burgess is reportedly a candidate to return on the practice squad, which would keep him in the building if the Saints want his experience available. Even so, the decision points to a clear youth movement in the defensive backfield, with younger players expected to handle bigger roles as the team settles its roster. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Roster Cuts Begin As Familiar Depth Faces Uncertain Future
The roster trimming has begun in New Orleans, and the Saints have started making the hard calls that come with getting down to the NFLs 53-man limit. On Monday, the team waived 10 players as part of the cutdown process, with most of the moves affecting familiar names who had either spent time on the practice squad or had only limited exposure with the club.
For a team trying to sort out the bottom of the roster, these decisions are rarely final in the way they first appear. The players now enter the waiver process and still have a path back to the Saints practice squad if they go unclaimed, which keeps a small window open as the deadline approaches and the last pieces of the roster picture come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Fans Can Now See What That Deion Jones Trade Really Was
What looked like a small late-summer move between the Saints and 49ers has already turned into one of those preseason transactions that says more about roster juggling than long-term plans. New Orleans sent linebacker Deion Jones to San Francisco for running back Zamir White, a swap made to help each team cover a need for the final exhibition games rather than a deal built around a permanent fit.
Neither side ended up carrying the move beyond the preseason finale, with both players released by their new teams afterward. For Saints fans, the more interesting part may be what comes next for Jones, who could still circle back to the 49ers through the practice squad if San Francisco wants to keep him in the building a little longer. [Read more 🡒]