The New Orleans Saints have placed two players on season-ending Injured Reserve (IR).
Tight end Moliki Matavao and running back Ty Chandler have both been placed on IR, ending their 2026 campaigns before the season could begin.
Both players were injured during their preseason Week 2 action against the Los Angeles Rams and were out of practice both Monday and Tuesday to start the week. They were placed on the list Tuesday afternoon.
Both players were dealing with knee injuries.
Chandler had a strong start to camp and quickly made an impression during the preseason with an 86-yard opening kick return that set up a one-play touchdown drive for the offense.
He appeared on the field for the Saints in their second preseason game up until late in the fourth quarter. He had six carries for 21 rushing yards and a lost fumble on the day.
He looked to be, even with the red zone fumble, a player in line to possibly force himself onto the 53-man roster with consistent play out of the backfield and because of his special teams acumen as an accomplished career kick returner.
Matavao similarly had a strong start to camp and appeared ready to make the leap from the practice squad in 2025 to the initial active roster in 2026.
Up until he took an awkward hit to the knee against the Rams, he was the team’s most consistent contributor in an otherwise clunky matchup. He finished that contest with three catches for 34 receiving yards, tied for second most on the day for the team despite leaving the game early in the second quarter.
The Saints have a deep room of tight ends, though rookie Oscar Delp is currently dealing with a hamstring injury of his own, and traded with the San Francisco 49ers to acquire veteran running back Zamir White. They will have the players necessary to navigate these losses going into the final preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Meanwhile, two more roster spots could be up for grabs now that a pair of players that may have been on track to earn them have gone down for the season.
