Saints Open 3 Defensive Battles as 4 Players Miss Practice

Q: Will Kendre Miller's growing injury history cost him his spot in a fiercely competitive running back room?

Yes, it could if the missed time keeps piling up, but one brief back issue alone probably will not cost Kendre Miller his spot. The immediate update from Saints coach Kellen Moore was reassuring. Moore said Miller’s back issue was not viewed as serious and that he is “not worried,” framing it as a normal camp concern after contact increased. That matters, because the Saints do not appear ready to make a decision based on this one absence. The bigger problem is the pattern. Miller is coming off a 2025 ACL tear and has also dealt with ankle, hamstring and concussion issues earlier in his career. He has never played more than eight games in a season, and that history makes every new injury more significant than it would be for a more durable player. That is especially risky in this backfield. Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara give New Orleans proven top options, while younger backs such as Devin Neal and Audric Estime are competing for the remaining jobs. Multiple reports suggest Miller is fighting for a lower-depth-chart role, potentially the No. 3 spot, and limited practice time works against him in that battle. The key for Miller is not just getting healthy, but staying available through camp and preseason. His talent has rarely been questioned; his reliability has. If he returns quickly and practices consistently, he still has a strong chance to make the roster. If the injuries keep interrupting his reps, his history could absolutely cost him a place in a crowded room.

3 articles · Updated · NOLA.com · Aug 5

Six practices into camp, New Orleans is giving extended first-team looks to Danny Stutsman, John Ridgeway and Isaac Yiadom, signaling three defensive starting jobs are still unsettled.
Four players sat out Wednesday after the Saints ramped up physicality in pads: Kendre Miller with a back issue, Christen Miller with a toe injury, Jeremiah Wright with a shoulder injury and Keeshawn Silver with a calf problem.
Kellen Moore called the lineup shuffles "no big deal" and part of normal rotation, though Stutsman said the chance to win a starting role is a daily fight players are eager to prove on tape.
Vernon Broughton supplied the standout defensive moment by driving Cesar Ruiz back about 10 yards in one-on-one drills, while the first-team offense had a quieter day and settled for a 51-yard field goal in a late-game scenario.