NEAL & HELDMAN RELEASED

The New Orleans Saints have moved on from two promising young players who had been placed on injured reserve during the club’s final roster reduction.

New Orleans waived running back Devin Neal and defensive end Michael Heldman from injured reserve with injury settlements Thursday. Both players must now pass through the NFL waiver system. If neither is claimed, each will become a free agent eligible to sign with another team.

The transactions are notable because Neal was a recent Saints draft pick, while Heldman emerged as one of the team’s most intriguing undrafted rookies during the preseason.

What the injury settlements mean

An injury settlement allows a team and an injured player to agree on compensation covering the estimated period during which the player will be unable to play. The player is then waived instead of remaining on the team’s injured-reserve list for the entire season.

If another NFL club submits a waiver claim, that team assumes the player’s contract. If the player clears waivers, he becomes a free agent and can sign elsewhere once medically able.

The transactions do not necessarily mean Neal and Heldman will miss the full 2026 season. They do mean the Saints no longer control their rights under their previous contracts. A future reunion remains possible under NFL rules, but both players will have an opportunity to continue their careers elsewhere.

Devin Neal’s Saints tenure ends—for now

The Saints selected Neal out of Kansas with the 184th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Neal appeared in 10 games with three starts during his rookie season, producing 206 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 57 carries. He also caught 17 passes for 104 yards and contributed as a kickoff returner.

Neal entered his second training camp facing a crowded backfield but remained an appealing developmental option. His combination of vision, receiving ability and toughness gave him a chance to compete for a reserve role behind New Orleans’ veteran runners.

A hamstring injury interrupted that opportunity. Neal was among five players placed on injured reserve when the Saints reduced their roster to 53 players.

Waiving Neal leaves New Orleans without a 2025 draft investment who had already demonstrated that he could contribute during regular-season action. The club’s depth at the position, however, made it easier to reach a settlement instead of carrying him on injured reserve.

Saints’ updated running-back depth

New Orleans currently has four running backs on its active roster, led by major offseason acquisition Travis Etienne Jr.

Player	No.	Height	Weight	Age	Experience	College
Travis Etienne Jr.	3	5-10	215	27	6	Clemson
Kendre Miller	5	6-0	220	24	4	TCU
Audric Estimé	30	5-11	227	22	3	Notre Dame
Alvin Kamara	41	5-10	215	31	10	Tennessee

The practice squad supplies two bigger backs who can provide emergency depth:

Player	No.	Height	Weight	Age	Experience	College
Zamir White	26	6-0	227	26	5	Georgia
CJ Donaldson	43	6-1	230	22	Rookie	Ohio State

Etienne and Kamara give head coach Kellen Moore two proven, versatile options. Miller offers explosiveness when healthy, while Estimé supplies a physical downhill presence. White and Donaldson give the Saints two potential call-ups if injuries strike the active roster.

The current alignment can be viewed on the team’s unofficial depth chart.

Michael Heldman goes from preseason standout to waivers

Heldman’s departure is also significant because of the promise he flashed early in the preseason.

The Saints signed the former Central Michigan defensive lineman as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft. During his college career, Heldman accumulated 120 tackles, 34.5 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, four forced fumbles and a school-record 29 quarterback hurries.

He quickly attracted attention in New Orleans by recording two sacks, another tackle for loss and three quarterback hits in the preseason opener against Jacksonville. That performance placed him among the early undrafted-rookie standouts competing for a place in the Saints’ defensive-line rotation.

Heldman later sustained an undisclosed injury during the preseason finale against Dallas and was placed on injured reserve during final cuts. His settlement now gives him an opportunity to pursue another roster once he is healthy.

Why the Saints made the moves

The Saints had enough depth at running back and defensive end to settle with the two injured players instead of keeping them on injured reserve.

At running back, New Orleans already has Etienne, Kamara, Miller and Estimé on the active roster, with White and Donaldson available on the practice squad.

On the edge, the Saints are carrying Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Cameron Jordan, Tyree Wilson and Anfernee Jennings among their primary options.

The decisions create additional roster and financial flexibility, but they also carry risk. Neal has regular-season experience and remains only 23 years old. Heldman showed legitimate pass-rush potential before his injury.

If either player clears waivers, recovers and signs elsewhere, New Orleans could lose a young contributor without receiving compensation.

For now, the waiver wire will determine the next step. If Neal and Heldman go unclaimed, both will be free to seek new opportunities—and the possibility of a future return to New Orleans cannot be completely dismissed.

What do you think, Who Dat Nation? Did the Saints make the right decision, or should they have kept Neal and Heldman on injured reserve? Share your reaction below.

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