As if the 34-0 shellacking from the Los Angeles Rams wasn't bad enough, the New Orleans Saints lost another running back due to injury following the preseason game. First reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, Ty Chandler suffered a serious knee injury that is expected to keep him out of action for a while.
It's unclear when he suffered the injury, but he was still on the field with two minutes to go in the game, so it must've happened in the final stretch of the whole thing. Either way though, the timing of the injury has got to be a huge letdown for Chandler and his camp. He's slowly but surely been impressing all offseason, making a case that there should be a 53-man roster spot with his name on it.
The news of the injury also puts the trade for San Francisco 49ers halfback Zamir White from earlier this week into a different perspective. It's obvious now that the Saints already had some knowledge of Chandler's injury and knew that they had to get another guy in the building one way or another. However,
The Saints will have to start the season with a hobbled running back room
With Chandler's injury, the situation in the Saints' running back room has gone from bad to worse. What was once one of the stronger spots on the roster, is now being held together by a sheer force of will. This September, the running backs could be the weakest link on the team.
Nearly half of the running backs they started camp with have been injured now, with the only healthy remaining players being Travis Etienne, Kendre Miller, CJ Donaldson, and newly added Zamir White. That's no good, and if that's who the Saints have on their roster come Week One, then there are bound to be some hard times ahead. Of those four, only one of them has really proven themselves at the NFL level.
That man would be Etienne, of course, but he can't be expected to take 100% of the carries in 2026. Someone else on the team has to step up in these next few weeks, and right now their options are between a guy who has never played more than eight games a season, a career backup, and an undrafted free agent. Not the greatest selection of backs that's ever been seen, that's for sure.
Running back Audric Estime was finally seen back at practice on Monday, although it's still unclear whether he is a full-go for team drills and real action. If he is, then that's a reinforcement the Saints desperately could use.
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