Devin Neal’s night ended fast, and for the Saints, that was the last thing they needed in a preseason game that already went sideways.
New Orleans’ second preseason outing brought a little bit of everything the team didn’t want: tired-looking play, no points on the board, and injuries piling up all over the place. Neal’s injury was the one that really turned heads.
On his first carry, the second-year running back tried to get to the edge, then started hobbling and reaching for his hamstring. It was obvious right away that something was wrong, and he was ruled out shortly after.
After the game, head coach Kellen Moore said Neal’s hamstring injury is still being evaluated, and the team is in the information-gathering phase. That’s a rough update for any player, but especially for one the Saints may have counted on for a bigger role.
The hamstring part makes it even more concerning. New Orleans has already been dealing with Jordyn Tyson’s hamstring issues, and Neal’s situation has now become part of that same frustrating pattern.
This isn’t Neal’s first time dealing with it, either. He suffered a hamstring injury last season that ended his year, and he was also working through another hamstring issue in training camp. Whether this is a fresh injury or a tweak to the previous one, the result is the same for now: his return timeline is unclear, and it could be a while.
That leaves the Saints in a tight spot at running back. Alvin Kamara and Audric Estime are already hurt, and Kamara is expected to miss at least a month.
The rest of the group currently includes Travis Etienne, Kendre Miller, Ty Chandler, and CJ Donaldson. That’s not much cushion, especially with Miller’s injury history.
If another back goes down, the position could get stripped down in a hurry.
For that reason, the Saints can’t just sit still. They need more bodies in the room, and they need them before the situation gets worse. Competition would help, and there’s no real reason to wait around with the current setup.
The problem is the market isn’t exactly loaded with great options. Veterans such as Antonio Gibson and Alexander Mattison are out there, and there’s also the possibility that a player who doesn’t make a 53-man roster elsewhere could become available later.
But later may not be good enough for New Orleans. The Saints need help now.
In Other News...
Saints Preseason Blowout Suddenly Became Part Of A Bigger NFL Debate
Brenda Songs color commentary debut during the Rams-Saints preseason game added a different kind of conversation to a night that already had plenty of football on it. For New Orleans, the scoreline itself was only part of the backdrop, because the broadcast quickly drew attention beyond the field and into the booth, where ESPN and the NFL were trying something a little outside the usual preseason script.
Jason Whitlock used the postgame spotlight to go after that decision, criticizing the networks and framing Songs role as part of a broader shift he sees around who gets hired for these jobs. The Rams still move on to the rest of their preseason slate and then the regular season, but the buzz from this one has left an off-field debate hanging around a game the Saints would probably rather file away and forget. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Backfield Depth Just Took Another Hit With Devin Neal
Devin Neals preseason remains stuck in the same frustrating place after another hamstring issue surfaced in the Saints loss to the Rams. Head coach Kellen Moore confirmed the injury, and the setback lands at a bad time for a backfield that has already been trying to sort out depth while camp winds down.
Neal had also missed time earlier in training camp with a hamstring injury, making this latest problem especially discouraging for a player trying to carve out a role. He was one of several Saints to leave the game hurt, with Lorenzo Styles, Bub Means, Moliki Matavao, Torricelli Simpkins III and Brien Taylor also dealing with injuries, adding to the sense that New Orleans is piling up absences at an inconvenient moment. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Backups Just Created A Preseason Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The Saints got another long look at the bottom of the roster against the Rams, and it was not a flattering one. Los Angeles controlled the game from the start, built a 20-0 halftime lead and never let the outcome feel in doubt, with the Rams backups and depth players making the stronger case throughout the night.
Alex Cooks pick-six, Jarquez Hunters touchdown run and solid work from Wesley Bailey, Stetson Bennett, CJ Daniels, Austin Blaske and others turned the preseason meeting into a reminder of how much can swing once the starters are gone. For New Orleans, that is the part of August that matters now, because the challenge is no longer just finding flashes, but deciding which reserves can actually help when the games count. [Read more 🡒]