Saints head coach Kellen Moore said Tuesday that Neal (undisclosed) will be limited at minicamp due to a minor injury suffered early June, Erin Summers of ESPN reports. Neal's exact injury remains undisclosed, but it doesn't appear severe enough to cause concern about his status for the start of training camp in July. Still, it's notable that the 2025 sixth-round pick will be limited at mandatory minicamp as he works to compete for a backfield role in Year 2. With New Orleans having inked new lead back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract in March and Alvin Kamara still on the roster, Neal appears positioned to compete with Kendre Miller (ACL), Ty Chandler and Audric Estime for reserve opportunities.
The Saints placed Neal (hamstring) on injured reserve Thursday. Neal's rookie season thus is over with the Saints not eligible for a postseason berth after he sustained a hamstring injury this past Sunday against the Panthers. In 10 appearances (three starts) on the campaign, he totaled 57 carries for 206 yards and two touchdowns, hauled in 17 of 19 passes for 104 yards and didn't fumble. With Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) currently unable to practice and in danger of missing more time, New Orleans appears poised to roll with Audric Estime and Evan Hull at running back for the time being.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore said Wednesday that Neal (hamstring) is ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jets, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. Neal will miss at least one game due to the hamstring injury that forced him out of New Orleans's win over the Panthers in Week 15, in which he drew a third straight start in place of Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle). With Neal now ruled out and Kamara still not practicing, Evan Hull and Audric Estime now become candidates to lead the Saints' backfield heading into a crucial Week 16 fantasy slate. Hull and Estime split time versus Carolina after Neal departed with injury.