Opening week of the 2026 NFL season sees the New Orleans Saints travel to take on the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Not that preseason records matter one bit, but the Saints went 1-2 in the preseason while the Lions had a 2-1 record.
What matters more is who is going to be healthy to open the year now that the games count. New Orleans lost a couple contributors for the year in preseason. Others may miss the early portions of the season but should come back to play a key role.
Here are the different injury designations for several players as the Saints ended training camp.
Injured Reserve (season-ending)
- CB Dalys Beanum (undisclosed)
- DT Bryan Bresee (knee)
- RB Ty Chandler (knee)
- EDGE Mike Heldman (undisclosed)
- CB David Long Jr (undisclosed)
- TE Moliki Matavao (knee)
- RB Devin Neal (hamstring)
- G Dillon Radunz (knee)
- OT Barry Wesley (undisclosed)
- CB Rezjohn Wright (hip)
These players were placed on injured reserve before the final cutdowns and will miss the entire 2026 season. Some were legitimately major injuries. Others, if we're being
honest, is a commonly used method by NFL teams to stash a player with developmental skills who wouldn't likely have made the active roster.
Losing Bresee is the biggest blow. He was the team's best down lineman. Chandler had made an early impact and looked to be pushing for a job as a backup running back and kick returner. Neal showed promise as a rookie in 2025 and was probably going to be the fourth back. The loss of both thins a New Orleans running back room with Alvin Kamara already dealing with a knee injury along with the fragile Kendre Miller. Radunz was an experienced starter expected to be the team's top backup at guard, greatly thinning already concerning depth along the offensive line.
Both Wright, Beanum, and Long were in the running to grab one of the final spots in the secondary. Matavao had flashed enough potential to possibly force the Saints to keep four tight ends. Heldman showed a lot of promise as an undrafted rookie and should be in the mix to grab a job in 2027.
Injured Reserve (Designated to Return)
- LB Jaylan Ford (foot/hamstring)
- S Lorenzo Styles Jr (calf)
- WR Jordyn Tyson (hamstring)
Prior to preseason roster cutdowns, each NFL team is permitted to place up to two players on injured reserve with a destination to return. Styles was kept on the initial 53-man roster, then afterwards placed on the list. During the regular season, NFL teams are allowed up to eight players on the injured reserve--designated for return list. One of those have already been used by the Saints in Styles. These players are required to miss a minimum of four weeks. After that, a 21-day practice window can then be opened by the team on the injured player. Once that window is opened, the player must then be activated to the roster, placed on season-ending injured reserve, or released/traded by the end of those 21 days.
Ford was having the best training camp and preseason of his three-year career. Once he returns, he could be in the mix to get meaningful snaps at linebacker. Styles, a rookie fifth round choice, was having a good camp and should see time in the secondary and definitely on special teams upon his return. The biggest blow is the rookie receiver Tyson, the eighth overall choice in the draft. Tyson has dealt with leg issues all summer, so will hopefully not be a long-term concern. When on the field, he shows incredible playmaking skills needed by the offense. New Orleans will go into the regular season with four active wideouts and three more on the practice squad. The return of the explosive Jordyn Tyson to join Chris Olave and fellow rookie wideouts Bryce Lance and Barion Brown is anxiously anticipated.
Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP)
- WR Mason Tipton (leg/tibia)
This list is used in preseason for a player who suffered an injury prior to training camp, but their spot counts as part of the 90-man training camp roster. An NFL team can transition a player to the regular season PUP list if they had been there during training camp without counting as part of the 53-man roster or practice squad. Once there, they are required to miss a minimum of the first four games before returning. If the player does not return after the fourth game, then a five-week window opens where a player must return to practice. After that, there is a 21-day window for the player to return to the active roster or remain out for the season.
After offseason surgery on a broken tibia, Tipton has yet to practice with the team. Considered a long-shot to make the roster at a deeper receiver position, the Saints now have the luxury of delaying an official roster decision. Tipton does add value as a kickoff returner and possession receiver.
No Current Designation
- DE Cameron Jordan (hamstring)
- RB Alvin Kamara (knee)
- CB Quincy Riley (groin)
These players missed time to close out training camp but received no specific injury designation when roster decisions were made. They are eligible to play in Week 1 against Detroit but will be on the injury report next week with statuses to be monitored. All three are being counted on as major contributors for the 2026 Saints. Kamara may no longer be the starter with the addition of Travis Etienne, but will play a big role in the offense. Audric Estime is trusted by the coaches and Kendre Miller, IF healthy, brings a nice set of skills, but none have Kamara's versatility.
Jordan proved last year that he still has plenty of good football left and will be the primary pass rusher opposite of Chase Young. He was nursing a hamstring issue, but has only missed two of a possible 245 regular season contests. It would be a shock if Jordan doesn't play the opener. Riley will start opposite of Kool-Aid McKinstry and is coming off an exciting rookie year. He was having a strong camp before being sidelined, but has already returned to practice and should be a go to face the Lions.
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This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints post-training camp injury updates: Who's out or returning?
