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.

New Orleans made six roster moves after the preseason opener, trimming depth and shoring up with veterans and UDFA hopefuls. Will Clapp is headed to injured reserve after a foot injury, ending his season and forcing the Saints to rejigger the interior line behind Erik McCoy. Mason Pline lands on IR with an injury designation after his Chargers game, making his return in 2025 uncertain. Chris Tyree also lands on IR via injury designation, opening another roster spot. Seth Green is back on the 90-man roster, a move prompted by knee injuries to Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill and the general depth concerns at TE. DT Jayden Peevy and WR Roderick Daniels signed to the 90-man unit, adding two long-shot options with upside. The Saints’ shakeup aims to salvage depth ahead of the regular season while evaluating new names in a tight camp fight.

Standalone depth needs aside, the moves highlight a trend: the Saints are prioritizing versatile blockers and special-teams contributors who can contribute if the injuries linger. Green’s return signals a real push to evaluate a tight end room with more mass and run-game competence. Peevy’s size and practice-squad potential give New Orleans another big-body option on the defensive line. Daniels offers a dynamic playmaking profile for a wide receiver group that already features Olave and Shaheed, while the immediate IR designations create open doors for younger players to slide into opportunities as camp progresses.

Will Clapp’s season-ending foot injury creates an early-season pivot for the Saints. With Erik McCoy hampered and Clapp out, Torricelli Simpkins is thrust into a starting interior role, testing the Saints’ depth and snap cadence. The shift portends more immediate pressure on the quarterback and tighter lanes in the run game, elevating the importance of the young blocker’s performance in preseason and Week 1. Fantasy managers should watch how New Orleans reshapes protections and which backups emerge as viable depth options behind Simpkins.

Around the league, notes on Stafford’s 68-pass tune-up and other preseason headlines underscore how line stability and depth drive fantasy and betting edges. The Saints’ challenge in the NFC South mirrors broader camps: teams juggling injuries and continuity can redefine value at running back and receiver spots. The narrative combines a clear on-field test for New Orleans with a wider snapshot of how preseason injury dynamics shape early-season projections.