Admid injuries, Saints sign RB Nyheim Hines to practice squad

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS, La. – While managing injuries in the running back room, the New Orleans Saints are adding a reinforcement option to the practice squad.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Saints are adding former Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers running back Nyheim Hines to the fold.

With Devin Neal out this week and Alvin Kamara dealing with ankle and knee injuries, the Saints are signing veteran RB Nyheim Hines to their practice squad, per source. Hines is continuing his long road back from a jet ski accident in the summer 2023.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 18, 2025

Hines was out of the NFL for the 2023 and 2024 seasons as a result of a 2023 jet ski accident that resulted in an ACL tear. He returned to the league this year, a trio of games with the Chargers before again being made available.

The Saints will be short-handed at running back this week with rookie Devin Neal ruled out and starting back Alvin Kamara managing knee and ankle injuries, with the knee injury being the catalyst for his absences over the last three weeks.

Hines has been a dual-threat type of back in the league since being drafted No. 104 overall by the Colts in 2018. If needed, he could potentially help deliver in a pinch if called upon. Though, being that he has been out of action since Week 8 of the season, he may not be an option to be called up immediately.

New Orleans will otherwise rely on previously roster backs Audric Estime and Evan Hull to carry the load of responsibility out of the backfield against the New York Jets. It’s also likely that quarterback Taysom Hill could be asked to contribute.

Hines has run for 1,200 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in his career. He’s also added 240 receptions, 1,778 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches through the air. In his last game with the Chargers, he carried the ball just twice for a loss of two yards on five offensive snaps. He contributed nine special teams snaps in his three games with Los Angeles this year.