Shepherd (illness) practiced in full Wednesday.
Shepherd hasn't played since Week 4 but appears ready to return for Sunday's game against the Browns. He has 12 tackles (three solo), including 0.5 sacks, across 175 defensive snaps this season.
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Saints' Justin Reid: Full go in practice
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Reid (concussion) was a full participant in New Orleans' practice Wednesday.
Reid is closer to making his return after sustaining a concussion during the Week 7 loss to the Steelers. The 2018 third-round pick will still have to clear the league's concussion protocol in order to be eligible to play in Sunday's matchup versus the Browns. If he ends up being unable to play, Lorenzo Styles will likely start at safety in his place.
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David Long: Works out with San Francisco
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Long (undisclosed) was hosted for a tryout with the 49ers on Tuesday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Long was released from injured reserve by the Saints on Thursday after spending the entirety of the 2026 campaign to this point on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. The cornerback now appears to be back to full health, and he'll have a chance to latch on with a new squad in the near future.
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David Long: Released by Saints
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Long (undisclosed) was released by the Saints on Thursday, John Sigler of Saints Wire reports.
Long was selected by the Rams in the third round of the 2019 Draft. He spent four seasons in Los Angeles before suiting up for the Raiders and Panthers in 2023. Since then, Long has been trying to land a spot on an NFL roster, and while he managed to sign with the Saints ahead of the 2026 campaign, he's been sitting on injured reserve. The 28-year-old is free to sign with another team, though it's unknown if he's healthy enough to get on the field. Long can also wait three weeks and re-sign with New Orleans.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Records 1.5 sacks in defeat
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Granderson totaled four tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in Sunday's Week 7 loss to Pittsburgh.
Granderson helped keep the game close with a pair of key sacks. He brought down Aaron Rodgers near the end of the second quarter to help hold the Steelers to a field goal, then split a sack in the red zone at the end of the third period to again limit Pittsburgh to three points. Granderson is up to 5.5 sacks through six games on the campaign, giving him an excellent chance of surpassing the career-high mark of 8.5 sacks he established over 17 contests in 2023.
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Saints' Jonas Sanker: Leads Saints in stops Sunday
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Sanker posted nine tackles (seven solo) in Sunday's Week 7 loss to Pittsburgh.
Sanker recorded his second-highest tackle tally of the campaign to lead New Orleans in that category. The second-year defender has now tallied six or more stops in five of his seven games this season. With 44 tackles through seven contests, Sanker is easily on pace to surpass the 80 stops he notched in 17 games as a rookie.
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Saints' Justin Reid: Ruled out with concussion
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Reid (concussion) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Steelers in Paris.
Reid sustained a concussion in Sunday's international game and will not return to the contest. The safety has entered the NFL's five-step concussion protocol and will need to be cleared by an independent neurologist for every step of his return journey.
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Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Sidelined for Week 7
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Shepherd (illness) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Steelers in Paris, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Shepherd had missed the Saints' previous two games while recovering from an illness, but he appeared to have moved past the ailment after he was a full participant in practices Wednesday and Thursday. Unfortunately for Shepherd, he appears to have experienced a setback in his recovery, as he was unable to practice in any capacity Friday and then took a questionable tag into Sunday. The Saints will hold him out for one more game, but with a bye on tap in Week 8, Shepherd could be ready to resume playing in the team's following game Nov. 8 versus the Browns.
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Saints' Anfernee Jennings: Ready for Week 7
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Jennings (knee) does not have any injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Jennings will play in his first contest since sustaining a knee injury in the Saints' Week 3 loss to the Raiders. The linebacker should work back into the edge rotation behind starters Chase Young and Carl Granderson.
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Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Questionable for Week 7
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Shepherd (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers in Paris.
Shepherd was a full participant in each of the first two practices of Week 7 prep before sitting out of Friday's session, which may have been a planned rest day for the veteran defensive tackle. He's missed the Saints' last two games due to an illness, and if he cannot play Sunday, then Khristian Boyd and Christen Miller would be the top rotational options on the interior defensive line.
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Saints' Kaden Elliss: Good to go for Week 7
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Elliss (calf) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Elliss was limited earlier in the practice week and will return to the lineup after missing the previous three games. The 31-year-old linebacker has recorded 24 tackles (11 solo) and one pass breakup across three starts this season.
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Saints' Quincy Riley: Full participant Wednesday
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Riley was a full participant in practice Wednesday.
Riley began the week as a full participant in Wednesday's practice after exiting early in Week 6 with a neck injury. His availability is a sign that he will be back in his starting spot Sunday for Week 7.
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Saints' Kool-Aid McKinstry: Full practice Wednesday
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McKinstry (illness) was a full participant at the Saints' practice Wednesday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
McKinstry left the team's 34-27 win over the Giants in Week 6 with a migraine, but he is now back to full health ahead of Week 7. The 24-year-old will be tasked with trying to slow down DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard in Sunday's matchup with the Steelers in Paris.
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Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Full participant Wednesday
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Shepherd (illness) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Shepherd has missed consecutive games due to an illness. The veteran defensive tackle has returned to practice after recovering from the issue and should be ready to return to the field for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
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Saints' Pete Werner: Double-digit stops again in Week 6
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Werner recorded 11 total tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding a pass defensed during Sunday's 34-27 win over the Giants.
Werner was able to register double-digit stops for the second straight week and third time overall this season. The linebacker was also able to get to the quarterback in Week 6, sacking Jameis Winston in the second quarter. Through six games so far this year, Werner has compiled 46 total tackles (23 solo), including 2.0 sacks, while also producing two passes defensed.
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Saints' Martin Emerson: Picks off two passes in victory
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Emerson recorded seven solo tackles and four passes defensed, including two interceptions, during Sunday's 34-27 win over the Giants.
Emerson was all over the field in Week 6, finishing second on the team in tackles behind linebacker Pete Werner (11). The cornerback was thrust into a more prominent role in the secondary after Kool-Aid McKinstry was forced out of the game with a migraine, and Emerson definitely didn't disappoint. He was able to reel in a pair of interceptions, picking off Jameis Winston in the third quarter before jumping in front of a pass from J.J. McCarthy one quarter later.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore stated McKinstry (illness) exited Sunday's 34-27 win over the Giants due to a migraine, Jeff Nowak of The Big 870 New Orleans reports.
McKinstry exited Sunday's contest after experiencing a sudden onset of a migraine. Until there is a more definitive update, he should at least be considered questionable for the Week 7 meeting with the Steelers in Paris. If McKinstry can't suit up for that one, Quincy Riley is a candidate for more snaps.
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Saints' Kool-Aid McKinstry: Leaves game with illness
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McKinstry (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Giants, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
McKinstry is likely done for the remainder of the game as he battles a sudden illness. Decamerion Richardson and Martin Emerson will likely compete for snaps at outside cornerback opposite Quincy Riley.
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Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Sidelined for Week 6
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Shepherd (illness) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Shepherd will be sidelined for a second consecutive game due to an illness, which prevented him from participating in any practice during Week 6 prep. Rookie second-rounder Christen Miller should see a bump in defensive snaps due to the absence of Shepherd, whose next opportunity to play is Week 7 against the Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 25.
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Saints' Vernon Broughton: Cleared to play Week 6
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Broughton (illness) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Giants, Jeff Nowak of The Big 870 New Orleans reports.
Broughton was a full practice participant Friday, which was enough for him to shed an injury tag for Sunday's contest. He has six tackles (one solo), one forced fumble and a fumble recovery across four regular-season games.
