The New Orleans Saints are approaching one of the most difficult parts of the NFL calendar: turning a crowded training-camp roster into the final 53-man team.

Injuries to several important players have made the decisions even more complicated. Based on Big Q’s latest projection, New Orleans has 50 active players accounted for, with 25 on offense, 22 on defense and three specialists. That leaves three roster spots still open.

Four additional players—Alvin Kamara, Jordyn Tyson, Quincy Riley and Lorenzo Styles Jr.—are listed here as projected injured-reserve placements and are not included in the active total. Those four designations have not been made official as of this projection; the Saints’ current roster still lists all four as active.

That distinction matters. Under the NFL’s 2026 roster procedures, a team may designate a maximum of two players for return when placing players on an applicable reserve list during the final roster reduction. A player placed on IR must miss at least four games before returning. The Saints will therefore have to carefully manage the timing and return eligibility of every injured player.

Saints roster projection at a glance

Unit	Big Q’s Current Count	Recommended Final Additions	Projected 53 Total
Offense	25	WR Trey Palmer	26
Defense	22	DL John Ridgeway III, CB Michael Davis	24
Specialists	3	None	3
Active roster	50	3 players	53
Projected IR—not counted	4	Kamara, Tyson, Riley, Styles	4

Return duties do not create extra roster positions. Barion Brown is already counted at wide receiver. If Trey Palmer is expected to handle kicks or punts, he must also make the roster at a primary position—most naturally as the sixth receiver.

The projected active roster is split among 26 offensive players, 24 defenders and three specialists. The four projected IR players are not counted in the 53.

Big Q’s final three additions

Final Addition	Position	Why He Makes It	Roster Impact
Trey Palmer	WR/Returner	Adds proven NFL speed and gives New Orleans another explosive return option	Raises the active receiver total from five to six
John Ridgeway III	Defensive tackle	Supplies veteran size, power and dependable interior depth	Creates a deep six-man defensive-tackle rotation
Michael Davis	Cornerback	Brings experience, size and special-teams value to an injury-hit secondary	Raises the active cornerback total from three to four

Projected Saints 53-man roster by position

Offense: 26 players

Position	Players	Total
Quarterback	Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, Zach Wilson	3
Running back	Travis Etienne Jr., Audric Estimé, Kendre Miller, Zamir “Zeus” White	4
Wide receiver	Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, Barion Brown, Bryce Lance, Bub Means, Trey Palmer	6
Tight end	Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, Oscar Delp, Treyton Welch	4
Offensive line	Kelvin Banks Jr., David Edwards, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Taliese Fuaga, Asim Richards, Jeremiah Wright, William Sherman, Torricelli Simpkins III	9
Offensive total		26

Projected offensive IR: Alvin Kamara and Jordyn Tyson.

Defense: 24 players

Position	Players	Total
Edge defender	Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Cameron Jordan, Tyree Wilson, Fadil Diggs	5
Defensive tackle	Christen Miller, Vernon Broughton, Nathan Shepherd, Davon Godchaux, Khristian Boyd, John Ridgeway III	6
Linebacker	Kaden Elliss, Pete Werner, Danny Stutsman, Jaylan Ford, Isaiah Stalbird	5
Cornerback	Kool-Aid McKinstry, Martin Emerson Jr., Jayden Price, Michael Davis	4
Safety	Jonas Sanker, Justin Reid, Julian Blackmon, Jordan Howden	4
Defensive total		24

Projected defensive IR: Quincy Riley and Lorenzo Styles Jr.

Special teams: 3 players

Role	Player
Kicker	Daniel Carlson
Punter	Ryan Wright
Long snapper	Zach Wood
Kick returners	Barion Brown, Trey Palmer
Punt returners	Barion Brown, Trey Palmer

Brown and Palmer are not counted again for their return assignments.

The offensive line is the roster’s largest individual position group with nine players. Wide receiver and defensive tackle follow with six apiece.

Projected injured-reserve impact

Player	Position	Projected Status	Effect on the Active 53
Alvin Kamara	RB	Projected IR	Etienne leads a four-back active rotation
Jordyn Tyson	WR	Projected IR	Palmer becomes the sixth active receiver and return option
Quincy Riley	CB	Projected IR	Davis becomes essential veteran cornerback depth
Lorenzo Styles Jr.	S/DB	Projected IR	New Orleans opens the season with four active safeties

Roster pressure points

Position Group	Projected Depth	Confidence	Main Concern
Quarterback	3	Strong	Using three spots limits flexibility elsewhere
Running back	4 active	Watch	Kamara’s projected absence removes the proven centerpiece
Wide receiver	6 active	Watch	Tyson’s injury reduces the group’s top-end talent
Offensive line	9	Watch	Swing-tackle depth remains unsettled
Defensive front	11	Strong	Coaches must find snaps for a large rotation
Linebacker	5	Solid	Young backups must deliver on special teams
Secondary	8	High risk	Four active cornerbacks leave little injury protection
Specialists	3	Solid	Carlson still must officially secure the kicking job

Quarterback: Will the Saints really keep three?

Tyler Shough is the unquestioned starter. The real decision is whether New Orleans keeps both Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson behind him.

Carrying three quarterbacks costs the Saints a roster spot that could be used at cornerback, wide receiver or along the offensive line. However, Wilson’s experience and Rattler’s familiarity with the offense give the Saints two different forms of insurance behind Shough. Unless a late trade changes the equation, this projection keeps all three.

Running back: Injuries completely changed the room

Travis Etienne Jr. becomes the clear lead back while Kamara recovers. Audric Estimé and Kendre Miller supply power and developmental upside, while the recently acquired Zamir “Zeus” White gives the Saints another physical runner who can survive between the tackles.

The biggest question is Kamara’s designation. If the Saints carry him on the active roster instead of placing him on IR, one of the projected final 53 would have to come off the list. If he goes to IR with a return designation, he would miss at least the first four games.

Wide receiver: Trey Palmer solves the roster-count problem

Chris Olave remains the established No. 1 receiver, while Devaughn Vele gives Shough a large target with NFL production. Barion Brown brings explosive speed, and Bryce Lance and Bub Means round out the group in this projection while first-round pick Jordyn Tyson recovers.

Palmer was originally listed only as a returner, but return specialist is not a separate exemption from the 53-man limit. Adding him to the receiver room produces six active wideouts and moves the overall roster count from 50 to 51.

Offensive line: Nine players provide a workable mix

The projected starting five is Kelvin Banks Jr., David Edwards, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz and Taliese Fuaga. Asim Richards supplies tackle flexibility, while Jeremiah Wright, William Sherman and Torricelli Simpkins III provide interior depth.

Nine linemen is a reasonable opening-week number, but the lack of a clearly established swing tackle makes this one of the positions New Orleans could revisit after waiver claims begin.

Defensive front: The strongest numbers on the roster

The Saints would carry five edge defenders and six defensive tackles in this projection. Chase Young and Carl Granderson lead the pass rush, while Cameron Jordan supplies leadership and positional flexibility. Tyree Wilson is the high-upside addition, and Fadil Diggs earns the final edge position.

Inside, Davon Godchaux and Nathan Shepherd provide veteran strength. Christen Miller, Vernon Broughton and Khristian Boyd bring youth and depth, while John Ridgeway III gives the Saints another proven, powerful interior defender. Keeping six tackles protects New Orleans against its recent wave of defensive-line injuries and preserves a heavy rotation for Brandon Staley.

Linebacker: Experience surrounded by young legs

Kaden Elliss and Pete Werner give the Saints two experienced starters. Danny Stutsman, Jaylan Ford and Isaiah Stalbird supply youth, range and special-teams value.

This is a balanced five-man group, but special-teams performance in the final preseason game could determine whether New Orleans stays with five or adds a sixth linebacker.

Secondary: Michael Davis claims the final cornerback spot

This is the clearest weakness in the original 50-player projection. With Quincy Riley projected for IR, only Kool-Aid McKinstry, Martin Emerson Jr. and Jayden Price were counted at cornerback. Adding Michael Davis gives the Saints four active corners, with the versatile safety group available to support the secondary.

This final projection gives one of the last defensive positions to Michael Davis. Davis was re-signed on August 26 after appearing in 11 games for New Orleans in 2025, primarily on special teams. His experience, size and coverage ability give him the edge over fellow recent signing David Long Jr. and the other bubble corners.

At safety, Jonas Sanker, Justin Reid, Julian Blackmon and Jordan Howden form a versatile four-man group while Lorenzo Styles Jr. recovers.

Special teams: Carlson wins the kicking battle

This projection gives two-time All-Pro Daniel Carlson the job over Charlie Smyth and Tanner Brown. Ryan Wright remains the punter and Zach Wood handles long-snapping duties.

Barion Brown and Trey Palmer are the projected returners. Their speed gives the Saints multiple options without using extra roster positions because both are already counted at wide receiver.

Big Q’s final call

The original list produced 50 active players, not 53. Big Q’s final three additions are Trey Palmer at receiver, John Ridgeway III at defensive tackle and Michael Davis at cornerback.

That creates a final construction of:

• 26 offensive players
• 24 defensive players
• 3 specialists
• 53 active players total
• 4 additional projected IR players

The final preseason game and the Saints’ injury decisions could still change the math. If Kamara, Tyson, Riley or Styles remains on the active roster, someone currently projected to make the team will have to be removed. That is the real drama behind New Orleans’ final cutdown.

Who Dat Nation: Which three players would you use to complete the Saints’ 53-man roster? Let us know in the comments.

Sources

• New Orleans Saints unofficial depth chart
• New Orleans Saints current roster
• Saints sign defensive backs Michael Davis and David Long Jr.
• NFL Football Operations: 2026 important dates and roster procedures
• NFL.com: Injured-reserve return rules