Neal accrued three carries for 11 yards and caught his only target for one yard during Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Rams.
Neal had only three fewer carries than RB1 Alvin Kamara, who was stymied for a season-low 14 rushing yards. Meanwhile, do-it-all tight end Taysom Hill finished with a team-high 30 rushing yards on four carries. New Orleans got dominated in just about every phase, leaving rookie quarterback Tyler Shough to attempt 24 passes compared to just 14 rushing attempts as a team. It's unclear how the rushing attempts would have been split up if there was a more normal game script for the Saints' offense. New Orleans will next play against the Panthers in Week 10 next Sunday.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Ready for Week 9 action
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Neal (ankle) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at the Rams, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Meanwhile, No. 1 RB Alvin Kamara is listed as questionable due to his own ankle injury, but coach Kellen Moore told Jeff Nowak of WWL New Orleans that the ninth-year pro is trending in the right direction entering the weekend. Considering Neal practiced fully Friday while Kamara remained limited, the former could be poised for a bump in snaps Sunday if the Saints opt to take it easy on the veteran back. Neal, a rookie sixth-round pick, has three carries for 10 yards and three catches (on three targets) for 11 yards in four appearances this season.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Remains limited at practice
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Neal (ankle) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Neal maintained his activity level from Wednesday as he tends to an ankle injury. No. 1 RB Alvin Kamara also is operating with a cap on his reps this week due to a lingering ankle issue, but there's been no indication that either player is in danger of sitting out Sunday's game at the Rams. In Week 8 against the Buccaneers, Neal took over the No. 2 role following Kendre Miller's torn ACL, logging a 46 percent snap share and netting 11 yards on his three catches. Meanwhile, Kamara handled 51 percent of the plays on his way to 45 yards from scrimmage on eight touches.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Tending to ankle issue
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Neal was limited at Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury.
No. 1 RB Alvin Kamara also is dealing with an ankle issue, but Neal's concern is a new one. In his first game acting as the No. 2 back in place of Kendre Miller (torn ACL) this past Sunday against the Buccaneers, Neal played 46 percent of the snaps, didn't see a carry and tallied three catches (on three targets) for 11 yards, while Kamara logged a 51 percent snap share and notched 45 yards from scrimmage on eight touches. Such a breakdown of work may be the norm between Kamara and Neal moving forward, but with injuries in tow for both players, their statuses will be monitored as the week goes on to get a sense of their odds to be available Sunday at the Rams.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Week 9 Waiver Priority List
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In the first game for New Orleans without Kendre Miller (knee) in Week 8 against Tampa Bay, Neal had three catches for 11 yards on three targets and no carries. Alvin Kamara played through a brief injury scare against the Buccaneers and will hopefully be fine. However, if Kamara were to miss any time, then Neal would be a borderline starter in all leagues heading into Week 9 at the Rams. He's worth adding for at least 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Logs three touches Week 8
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Neal had zero carries and hauled in all three of his targets for 11 yards during Sunday's 23-3 loss against Tampa Bay.
The rookie sixth-rounder served as the Saints' RB2 with Kendre Miller out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 7. New Orleans benched starting quarterback Spencer Rattler for rookie Tyler Shough late in the third quarter, and the offense abandoned the running game with just 15 carries as a team. Neal still played 46 percent of offensive snaps while operating behind Alvin Kamara, who only played 51 percent of offensive snaps. Neal will look for more rushing opportunities as New Orleans' offense looks to right the ship Week 8 versus the Rams.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Kamara's top backup with Miller out
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Neal will likely take on a larger role following Kendre Miller's season-ending knee injury, Matthew Paras of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Miller tore his ACL in this past Sunday's loss to the Bears, opening the door for Neal to take over as the primary backup to Alvin Kamara (ankle). Neal was a sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. He has three carries for 10 yards in three NFL appearances. Velus Jones rounds out the running back depth chart.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Week 8 Waiver Priority List
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Kendre Miller (ACL) is out for the season after getting hurt in Week 7 at Chicago, and now Neal will be No. 2 on the depth chart for the Saints behind Alvin Kamara. Miller had at least nine total touches in four games in a row prior to Week 7, and while we hope Kamara will absorb most of those touches, Neal could now see a boost in activity. Neal only has three carries for 10 yards and no targets so far in his rookie campaign, but he's now someone to stash on your bench, especially as a handcuff for Kamara. He's worth adding in all leagues for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Healthy scratch Week 3
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Neal (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Seattle.
Neal entered the weekend with just two rushes for nine yards on the campaign, and he won't get a chance to add to that Sunday. Instead, Velus Jones -- who also serves as New Orleans' top kick returner -- is slated to work as the team's No. 3 RB behind Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Seven touches in preseason loss
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Neal (hamstring) rushed five times for 20 yards and brought in both targets for 10 yards in the Saints' 28-19 preseason loss to the Broncos on Saturday afternoon.
Neal had missed the first two preseason games due to a hamstring injury, but the rookie sixth-round pick was able to finally get on the field Saturday. Neal was reasonably effective with his second-half opportunities, and he'll presumably have to beat out at least one of veterans Cam Akers, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Velus Jones to make it through final cutdowns.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Not in line to play Sunday
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Based on his absence from pregame warmups, Neal (hamstring) is not in line to play against the Jaguars in Sunday's preseason game, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Neal is working through a hamstring injury that he suffered in the beginning of August, and it appears the rookie sixth-rounder also is unlikely to play in the Saints' preseason finale against the Broncos on Saturday. Kendre Miller, Cam Akers and Clyde Edwards-Helaire should handle most of the backfield snaps Sunday, especially if Alvin Kamara also doesn't play.
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Saints' Devin Neal: Saints end draft slide in Round 6
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The Saints selected Neal in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 184th overall.
Few would have found it shocking if Neal had gone as early as the third round, so in the sixth round he could prove a bargain for the Saints. The former Kansas star would ideally be a little more heavy (5-foot-11, 213 pounds) and would ideally have a little more speed (4.58-second 40-yard dash), but Neal's collegiate production was convincing on the question of his skill set. Neal really knows how to play, be it on running and passing downs, and if he gets his foot into the door history says he might be tough to put back on the bench. Neal might supplant Kendre Miller on the depth chart if Miller can't improve in his third year, though Neal is likely no threat to Alvin Kamara's usage.
