Devaughn Vele: Everything you need to know

Vele (shoulder) faces increased competition for playing time and targets after the Saints used three picks on wide receivers in last weekend's 2026 NFL Draft, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports. New Orleans used the No. 8 overall pick on Jordyn Tyson, who figures to start alongside Chris Olave from day one, and later on the Saints took Bryce Lance in the fourth round and Barion Brown in the sixth. Acquired from the Broncos during the preseason last summer, Vele appeared in 13 regular-season games for the Saints, making seven starts, and produced a 25-293-2 receiving line on 39 targets. Following the trade of Rashid Shaheed to Seattle, Vele became a starter but was injured in Week 15 and missed the final three contests. Capable of playing the slot or outside and on special teams, Vele should have a role in 2026, but the target competition is much stiffer.

The Saints placed Vele (shoulder) on injured reserve Friday, WWLAM's Jeff Nowak reports. Vele became a big part of the Saints offense the past three games, only to go down with a shoulder injury Week 15. It sounds like it wasn't overly serious and he would've been able to return at some point if the injury had occurred earlier in the season.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore said Wednesday that Vele (shoulder) is ruled out for Sunday's game against New York, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. Vele is considered week-to-week due to a left arm injury sustained during New Orleans' win over the Panthers in Week 15, which makes his status uncertain for the Saints' remaining three regular-season games. The second-year wideout had shown improved chemistry with rookie quarterback as of late, having averaged 59.8 receiving yards across his last four appearances and drawing at least five targets in each of those contests.