This isn't what you want to see. The New Orleans Saints announced that starting safety Justin Reid entered the NFL's concussion protocol and would not return for the rest of Sunday's game with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris. Reid had been on the field for all 410 defensive snaps in six previous games this season (plus 32 reps on special teams), so this is a big loss.
Reid, 29, was a big free agent pickup last season and remained an integral part of Brandon Staley's secondary in 2026. He's a reliable veteran who doesn't miss many tackles (just once per game, according to Pro Football Reference and Stathead) and facilitates communication between the back end of the defense and the big guys up front. In his place, the Saints opted to play fourth-year
backup Jordan Howden so that Jonas Sanker could remain in the slot with Julian Blackmon manning the other spot.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints rule out starting safety Justin Reid (concussion) vs. Steelers
