Saints injury updates after the Broncos game show a banged-up offensive line with Landon Young and Shane Lemieux both dealing ankle issues, Khristian Boyd with a hand, and Rico Payton sidelined with an injury that could take weeks to heal. With Trevor Penning out for the opener and Taliese Fuaga resting, New Orleans faces a depth challenge up front. Will Clapp and Nick Saldiveri suffered season-ending injuries earlier, leaving Young as a key depth option at tackle.

Fantasy managers should watch how the Saints navigate Week 1 protection and run-blocking with the reshuffled interior and tackle spots. The next few days will define which reserves emerge as reliable depth pieces and how the line’s health could influence the Saints’ early-season game plan and rushing attempts.

Saints' offensive-line depth took another hit as Landon Young left the final preseason game on a cart, joining a list of injuries that already sidelined Will Clapp and Nick Saldiveri for the season. Trevor Penning is questionable for Week 1, and Shane Lemieux limped off at halftime. With Young down, Dillon Radunz may need to play more tackle, testing a reshaped line before the opener.

Fantasy managers should note the ripple effects: protection stability could waver, limiting pass-heavy scripts and complicating workload splits for the backfield. Devin Neal’s return adds offense, but the line’s health remains the deciding factor in early-season production.

Two teams, one swap: Khalen Saunders leaves New Orleans for Jacksonville, and Luke Fortner arrives in return, reshaping the Saints’ interior depth. Fortner, 27, started for the Jaguars over the last two seasons and logged over 2,400 snaps in 2022-23, though his 2024 role waned. His arrival gives New Orleans a potential centerDepth option behind Erik McCoy as the club navigates injuries along the line.

New Orleans has been hit by illness and roster instability, with Will Clapp season-ending and both Cesar Ruiz and Trevor Penning managing bumps. The Saints eyed free agent centers, eventually signing Mike Panasiuk after a preseason look behind Torriceli Simpkins III. Panasiuk’s penalty in one outing could spur continued experimentation, including moving Simpkins to guard as Penning and Ruiz work back. More updates are expected as the depth chart takes shape.

New Orleans loses Bub Means to a season-ending ankle injury, a setback that tightens the Saints' WR depth in 2025. Means, a promising second-year prospect, will miss the entire year after seeking a second opinion on his ankle. The Saints quickly signed Roderick Daniels Jr. to help fill the void, signaling a continued push toward youth and development on offense. Injuries also kept veteran depth thin across the roster as the club focuses on a broader rebuild around young talent.

Fantasy managers should watch how Daniels Jr. and the rest of the receivers step into expanded roles in the wake of Means’ absence. With Means out, distribution among remaining targets will shift, elevating sleepers and rookies who flash in camp and the preseason. New Orleans remains hopeful the core grows healthier in 2026, but the immediate fantasy impact hinges on who seizes opportunities in the WR room and how aggressively the Saints commit to the young group early in the season.

The Saints added Mike Panasiuk to bolster center depth after a spate of o-line injuries, testing him at practice Monday in a No. 61 jersey. Panasiuk, who earned All-XFL and All-UFL honors with St. Louis Battlehawks, shifted from defensive tackle in college to center in the pros, and has spent time with the Raiders, Panthers and Colts. New Orleans needed interior help after Erik McCoy’s backup situation soured and Will Clapp’s season-ending injury, with Nick Saldiveri out at guard and Landon Young facing left-tackle questions. Panasiuk came through a workout with veterans Cody Whitehair, Scott Quessenberry and Nick Harris as part of a broader depth evaluation.

The group at practice underscored New Orleans’ urgency to stabilize the center position as preseason injuries mount, with Panasiuk’s versatility and late-start snapping background offering a unique floor and ceiling. While not a blockbuster signing on the official wire, it signals the club’s willingness to explore unconventional paths to protect the quarterback and keep the run game functional. Fantasy angles remain speculative in the near term, but Panasiuk’s arrival could matter if injuries persist or if he shows enough snaps to become a trusted depth option.

Panasiuk’s XFL/UFL pedigree and spring-league success bring a veteran voice to a shifting interior line. His presence adds another body that can swing between spots across the line, potentially easing the burden on McCoy and Penning as the Saints sort out guard and center combinations. The Saints’ willingness to test multiple shapes of depth at a single practice suggests further roster moves could follow, particularly if Panasiuk earns any snaps this preseason.