The New Orleans Saints’ preseason opener didn’t just take a hit - it may have shaken up the entire running back room.
Audric Estime walked into the game with a real chance to seize the RB3 job, and for a few snaps, he looked ready to make that case. After a quiet but steady offseason, the third-year back found himself with a bigger opening than expected when injuries sidelined Kendre Miller and Devin Neal. That window was there for the taking, and Estime made the most of it early, piling up 28 yards and the Saints’ first touchdown of the season on five carries.
Then everything flipped.
A slow, unnecessary pass from Spencer Rattler led to a brutal moment after the catch, as Estime was hit by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jabbar Muhammad in an awkward collision that ended his night. He never returned to the field.
For a Saints team already thin at the position, the timing couldn’t be worse. Miller has been out since early August with a back issue, and Neal, a 2025 sixth-round pick, has missed the past week because of a hamstring injury. Add Estime to that list, and suddenly New Orleans is dealing with three backup tailbacks sidelined at once.
That leaves the Saints in an uncomfortable spot. CJ Donaldson and Ty Chandler are still in the room, but one is an undrafted rookie and the other brings limited experience. That combination makes the depth chart look a lot less settled than it did before kickoff.
With the regular season now less than a month away, New Orleans may not be able to sit tight if these injuries linger. The Saints could be forced to bring in another running back just to stabilize the group.
In Other News...
Saints Preseason Just Made Several Roster Battles Feel A Lot More Tense
The Saints preseason has started to sharpen a few of the roster fights that were already hanging over camp, and the kicking competition is suddenly one of the most watchable. Charlie Smyth missed a 52-yard try against Jacksonville, while Tanner Brown was perfect on his two attempts, adding another layer to a battle that has already featured ups and downs as New Orleans sorts through several spots before the roster has to be trimmed.
Quarterback, running back and wide receiver are all still live questions, too, which makes every preseason rep feel a little heavier than usual. Kellen Moore has seen enough across camp to know these decisions will not be made on one snap or one night, but the Saints are at the point where performances are starting to separate, and the tension around those jobs only grows when one player keeps missing chances and another keeps taking advantage. [Read more 🡒]
Kellen Moores Saints Plan Says A Lot About Two Young Pieces
After a joint practice with the Jaguars, the Saints took a cautious route in their first preseason game and kept several starters on the sideline, a reminder that August is as much about evaluation as it is about preserving the depth chart. Among the players left out was linebacker Danny Stutsman, who has already carved out a defined role in the defense, while Vernon Broughton also sat despite being in line for more snaps because of an injury elsewhere on the roster.
Bryce Lance was part of that same conservative approach, with the rookie held out for now after a minor injury, though the expectation is that he will get his preseason work in later on. For a team trying to sort through young pieces without exposing them too soon, the decisions around Stutsman, Lance and Broughton say plenty about how the staff views their place in the bigger picture, even if the final answers are still coming. [Read more 🡒]