Honestly, if you've followed the Black and Gold for more than a week, you know the drill. The injury bug doesn't just bite the Saints; it basically moves into the facility and starts charging rent. This year felt different, though. It wasn't just a "next man up" situation—it was a "who is left in the locker room" situation. Looking at the New Orleans Saints injured players list from this past season is like reading a medical textbook you never wanted to open.
It's frustrating. You see the talent on paper, you get the "Who Dat" chant going, and then—snap. Literally. From the offensive line crumbling to the backfield losing its heart, the 2025-2026 campaign was defined by who wasn't on the field.
The Core Crisis: When the Big Guys Go Down
Football games are won in the trenches. We’ve heard it a million times. But for the Saints, those trenches were more like a revolving door at a New Orleans urgent care.
The biggest blow? Erik McCoy. Again. Our starting center is the glue. When McCoy is out there, the offense has a rhythm; the protection calls are crisp, and the run game actually has lanes. But a torn biceps in October sent him straight to Injured Reserve. People forget that the Saints were 2-0 and absolutely lighting up the scoreboard before the interior of the line started falling apart. Without him, the timing was just... off.
It wasn't just McCoy. Kelvin Banks Jr., the rookie tackle who everyone was hyped about, ended the season on the shelf with a nasty ankle injury. He’s currently questionable for the start of training camp this summer, which is a massive storyline to watch. If the Saints can't protect whoever is under center, the scheme doesn't matter.
Alvin Kamara and the Skill Position Scars
You can't talk about the Saints without talking about Alvin Kamara. He’s the engine. But by January, that engine was sputtering. Kamara spent the final stretch dealing with a combination of knee and ankle issues—specifically a MCL sprain that eventually sidelined him.
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Watching him try to gut it out was tough. He’s usually so fluid, so "slippery," but you could see the lack of burst in those late-season games. He finished as the team's leading rusher, but it was an injury-shortened campaign that left fans wondering "what if."
Then you have Chris Olave. This one was scary. Olave didn't just have a "football injury"—he was dealing with a blood clot in one of his lungs. That’s real-life stuff, way bigger than a Sunday afternoon game. He actually bounced back and had a career year despite the health scares, but he missed the season finale against Atlanta due to a separate illness. It’s wild to think he was voted second-team AP All-Pro while navigating all that.
A Quick Look at the IR Resident List
The sheer volume of guys on Injured Reserve by the end of the year was staggering. Here’s a snapshot of who we were missing when it mattered most:
- Trey Palmer (WR): Ankle injury that ended his season in early January.
- Michael Davis (CB): A shoulder injury that gutted the secondary depth.
- Kendre Miller (RB): A torn ACL back in October. The kid just can't catch a break.
- Bub Means (WR): Lower leg issues that put him on IR way back in the fall.
- Foster Moreau (TE): Ankle injury in late December.
The Taysom Hill Factor
Is there anyone more polarizing or more vital than Taysom Hill? Probably not. After that brutal ACL tear in late 2024, everyone wondered if the "Swiss Army Knife" would ever be the same.
To his credit, he won the Ed Block Courage Award for a reason. He made it back by October 1st, missing only four games. But let's be real—the Saints are a different team when Taysom is 100%. Even though he was "active," he dealt with a lingering shoulder issue (AC joint) that has him questionable for the upcoming 2026 training camp.
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When Taysom is hurt, the playbook shrinks. You lose the power run, the gadget passes, and that weird energy he brings to the goal line. Honestly, the 2025 season recap for the Saints is basically just a list of ways the team tried to compensate for Taysom not being able to do Taysom things.
The Silver Lining (Yes, There Is One)
It wasn't all bad news in the trainer's room. While the New Orleans Saints injured players list was long, it forced some young talent into the spotlight.
Chase Young actually stayed relatively healthy and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month to close out the year. That’s a miracle in itself given his history. And Tyler Shough? The rookie QB stepped in when Spencer Rattler went down with a finger injury. Shough ended up being the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for December/January.
He’s even planning to work out with Drew Brees this offseason. If you're a Saints fan, that's the kind of news that helps you sleep at night after a losing season.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Injuries
A lot of national media likes to say the Saints are "old" and that’s why they’re always hurt. That’s a lazy take.
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Look at the names: Olave, Bresee, Miller, Banks Jr. These are young dudes. The problem isn't age; it's a lack of functional depth. When your stars go down, the drop-off to the second string has been a cliff rather than a slope. The 2024-2025 seasons showed that the Saints' medical and conditioning staff are under the microscope for a reason. Whether it's the turf at the Superdome or just bad luck, something has to change in how they manage player loads.
Actionable Next Steps for 2026
If the Saints want to avoid another season defined by the injury report, the front office has some serious work to do. Here is what needs to happen:
- Prioritize O-Line Depth in the Draft: They cannot rely on Erik McCoy playing 17 games. They need a starter-level backup at center and guard.
- Revamp the Training Program: It might be time to look at the "SIC Scores" (Sports Injury Central) and see why teams like the Falcons and Eagles are consistently healthier.
- Manage Kamara’s Touches: Alvin is a warrior, but he's also 30. Using a committee approach with a healthy Kendre Miller (if he can stay on the field) is the only way to keep him fresh for a playoff run.
- Monitor the "Questionable" Stars: Keep a close eye on the rehab updates for Taysom Hill and Kelvin Banks Jr. heading into May and June. Their availability for training camp will dictate the entire offensive install for the 2026 season.
The talent is there. The coaching under Kellen Moore showed flashes of brilliance. But as the old saying goes: the best ability is availability. Until the Saints find a way to keep their names off the Wednesday injury report, they'll be watching the playoffs from the couch.
Keep an eye on the official Saints transactions over the next few weeks. The team usually starts moving players off IR and into "active" status for the offseason program around March. That will be the first real indicator of who is actually on track for a full recovery.