New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime had a lot riding on the one preseason game at home. Unfortunately for the third-year man, any hopes or aspirations he might’ve had came crashing down.
Estime has slowly and, for the most part, quietly put together a good offseason. Then, after the injury bug had caused Kendre Miller and Devin Neal to miss time, a huge opportunity fell into his lap. Heading into the game, if he played well enough, the RB3 spot could’ve been his.
He really had it going at first, gathering 28 yards and a touchdown (the Saints' first of the season) on just five carries. Then, momentum came to a halt after an unnecessary floater from quarterback Spencer Rattler. Right after catching the slow-moving pass, the halfback would get slammed by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jabbar Muhammad in such an awkward way that he would not see the field again.
The New Orleans Saints’ RBs just can’t catch a break
It’s a massive blow to the New Orleans Saints' running back room. Now counting Estime’s injury, New Orleans has three of its backup tailbacks banged up. What was once a trusted area on the roster no longer holds the confidence it once did.
Kendre Miller, who has that spot on paper, has been out since early August with a back issue. Devin Neal, a 2025 sixth-round pick, has missed the past week of practices due to a hamstring injury. Now with Estime out for an unknown amount of time, it’s three quality depth pieces M.I.A.
The Saints are now in a predicament they didn’t want to be in and are now facing a question mark when it comes to how the running back room will be filled out. Currently, they still have two other guys in the room with CJ Donaldson and Ty Chandler. But with one being an undrafted rookie and the other with limited experience, it’s still a bit unclear as to how Moore and Co. will do at the moment.
It’s good they have guys in the building, but depending on the severity of the injuries, they might not be enough. With the regular season under a month away, the Saints may have to add a new running back to the team.
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