The Saints terminated Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s contract as a part of trimming the roster down to 53 players. This likely isn't the end of his time with the Saints as the veteran is a prime candidate for being one of the first names added to the Saints practice squad.
Edwards-Helaire was selected to the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He ran for 1,845 yards and 12 touchdowns in his four year tenure with the team. He was cut on December 16, 2024 after missing time with injuries and personal matters.
It didn’t take long for the Saints to reach out to the Louisiana native. He signed a one year deal with the Saints two days later on December 18, 2024. He only played two games but showed enough to be re-signed to a one year deal during the offseason.
The Saints running back room was full of talent
Edwards-Helaire’s spot was uncertain following the preseason. The Saints running back room is crowded. Alvin Kamara is the lead back and Kendre Miller has proven himself as a talented backup. After that everyone’s spot was up for grabs. He was in a tight competition with 2025 sixth round pick Devin Neal, wide receiver/running back hybrid Velus Jones Jr and veteran Cam Akers.
Edwards-Helaire couldn’t separate himself during the preseason. He tallied 10 carries for 22 yards on the ground, and 3 receptions for 25 yards as a receiver. He had the second most rushing attempts, behind Kendre Miller with 15, yet was fifth in rushing yards.
The Saints like Edwards-Helaire as a player, they wouldn’t have re-signed them if they didn’t. He just couldn’t fit on this initial roster. He is a strong candidate for the practice squad, where he was originally signed to. His experience will be valuable if the Saints need an injury replacement. They can start adding players to the practice squad Wednesday, August 27 at noon EST.
As a veteran, Edwards-Helaire doesn't have to clear waivers. This is clearly where he wants to be, and he's made that clear. It didn't seem to be much of a market for him prior to re-signing with the Saints. It feels likely that he'll be one of the Saints first practice squad additions.
Coming into camp, the practice squad felt like the most likely landing spot for Edwards-Helaire. Neal being a late round pick didn't solidify his spot, but if you would have asked most people to guess who would be the third running back, Neal would have been the most popular answer.
Edwards-Helaire can still come up to the gameday roster a couple of times during the season. With Neal still being young, it wouldn't be surprising to see one of those game day elevations come sooner rather than later.