Kendre Miller is feeling healthier than he ever has, but that won’t afford the New Orleans Saints full health in their running back room. Kellen Moore announced Devin Neal suffered a hamstring injury that will result in him missing a few weeks.
If you get literal and call a few weeks three weeks, Neal won’t return until Aug. 26. That’s a few days after the final preseason game.
That’s a few weeks that Neal simply may not be able to afford. Unlike Miller, Neal wasn’t a top-100 selection. An injury very well could jeopardize his positioning on the roster hierarchy.
Devin Neal’s injury may cost him a spot on the Saints final roster
This is the most costly injury we’ve seen yet at Saints training camp from an individual perspective. The Saints have more running backs who can step in and compete, but that’s the problem for Neal.
Neal was looking to push for the spot behind Kamara. Though he was a sixth round pick, Neal saw time with the first team offense Day 1. It felt like the competition would be between him and Miller. The odds of that happening have slimmed.
Neal won’t be afforded the opportunity to compete against opposing teams due to this injury. It’s going to be hard to grab the spot behind Kamara when all Neal had was a few weeks of training camp, primarily without pads.
It goes deeper than being the second running back. New Orleans has a few veterans at the position as well. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Cam Akers are fighting for a roster spot as well. They may not have provided the upside to include them in RB2 conversations, but they are in the mix for a roster spot.
As the preseason goes on, that will be their proving ground. Their experience and extra opportunities to display their value may push Neal to the outside of the room.
There was a level of excitement around Neal, but without the proper chances to justify it, it’ll be more difficult for him to make it past initial roster cuts.