Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints will be light in the backfield on Sunday as they host the New York Jets.
The team has already adjusted to life without running back Kendre Miller who suffered an ACL tear against the Chicago Bears earlier in the season, but since then, the group has continued to thin.
Star back Alvin Kamara has been out of action for three weeks after going down with a knee injury against the Atlanta Falcons. He has also been nursing a nagging ankle injury throughout the season. Now, rookie back Devin Neal is headed to Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury.
Neal’s injury will officially end his season by virtue of there being only three games remaining. The sixth-round rookie was impressive in his expanded opportunities with Kamara and Miller sidelined.
He scored his first pair of career touchdowns in the last two games and totaled 206 rushing yards throughout his ten games of appearances, which include three starts.
Now that Neal, Miller and likely Kamara are all sidelined for this weekend’s game against the Jets, New Orleans will turn to second-year back Audric Estime.
Estime Was An Early Saints Target
The former Notre Dame power back was a surprise release by the Denver Broncos before the season began. At that time, he was often noted as a perfect addition for the Saints.
He would ultimately sign with the Philadelphia Eagles first, but remained on the practice squad during his stint there, appearing in no games during that time.
After he was waived in the City of Brotherly Love, he eventually found his way to New Orleans just two days after Miller’s injury. He advanced from the practice squad to the active roster and saw his first in-game action in the Saints’ first win of the season, a 17-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Since, he’s become a bit more of a fixture but still in a limited capacity. So far this season, he’s seen just six carries for 22 rushing yards and has added three receptions for 39 receiving yards, all which coming from the team’s Week 15 rematch with the Panthers.
Estime Is More Than A Power Back
His receptions and downhill yards after catch were a revelatory trio of plays for many that looked at Estime as nothing more than a between the tackles runner.
Proving that he could be a three-down back in head coach Kellen Moore’s offense was an important moment for the 2024 fifth-rounder.
“I definitely would say that’s part of my skill set as a bruising running back,” Estime said while speaking to reporters after the most recent Panthers game. “I like to show that I’m a three down back and I can play in any type of style of offense that’s needed. I am able to catch out the backfield. I’m able to play on third down and pass protect.”
Against the Jets, he’ll be asked to do a little of everything and prove those areas of the game further. He and former Northwestern versatile rusher Evan Hull should complement each other well, but they will have a tough matchup against the Jets’ No. 6 ranked rushing defense nonetheless.
A Major Opportunity For Estime
Not only is Estime going to be an integral part in the Saints trying to capture their first single-season three-game win streak since 2022, but he’s also vying for a role for the remainder of the season and beyond.
Should he put some strong moments on tape during the Saints’ final home game of the year, he could play himself into a starting role for the final two games on the road.
Beyond that, Estime could do enough to prove that he at least deserves to be back for camp next year. Kamara’s future is uncertain, Miller’s injury concerns have continued to compound and Neal will need a running mate. Estime and Hull have the best inside tracks to that opportunity with veteran back Nyheim Hines potentially entering the fold eventually as well.
This week’s game is important for the Saints as a whole. But there’s no mystery that Estime, a former Sean Payton running back, has a real, uniquely important chance to prove something against the Jets.
Audric Estime
Devin Neal was ruled out quickly in Week 15 with a hamstring injury.
Alvin Kamara hasn’t practiced in almost a month.
Estime has looked great on limited opportunities…
A+ rated remaining schedule…
Week 16: NYJ
Week 17: TENStash!
— Joe Orrico (@JoeOrricoFF) December 16, 2025
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