The New Orleans Saints were already in a complicated spot with their RB depth chart, but it may have gotten more confusing on Friday.
Ahead of the Saints’ Sunday Week 9 game against the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans ruled out running back CJ Donaldson due to injury.
New Orleans will now be short another running back, with Travis Etienne still on IR with his hamstring issue.
With the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, Nov. 10 — and Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller both involved in trade rumors — everything about this Donaldson reality makes things just a bit more confusing.
What Saints Do Without CJ Donaldson
The first question here is the simplest to answer: Who will replace Donaldson? Audric Estime.
The Saints brought back Estime this week after the Browns parted with him.
“He can acclimate rather quickly into our system, having known it and been around it for enough time.”
#Saints HC Kellen Moore on what RB Audric Estime can provide, with RB CJ Donaldson ruled out. https://t.co/psjCaHxK4d
— NOF (@nofnetwork) November 6, 2026
Estime spent the back half of the 2025 season with the Saints, then was with New Orleans in the preseason.
The Saints waived Estime on Sept. 22 with an injury settlement, but he quickly latched on with the Vikings. When the Vikings waived Estime two weeks later, the Browns claimed him.
Estime actually played one game for the Browns this season when injuries piled up, and he had nine carries for 19 yards and a touchdown.
Now, Cleveland is healthier and Estime was on the move again, back to New Orleans, which turns out to be important pretty much right away.
Saints Impact on Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller Trade Rumors
The Saints are 2-5, and if they lose Sunday to drop to 2-6, they’ll certainly be sellers by Tuesday’s trade deadline.
And the reality of a 2-6 football team, or even a mediocre 3-5 football team, is that an injury like Donaldson’s shouldn’t have a huge impact on their plans.
If the Saints already planned to trade Kamara and/or Miller in the days ahead, that will likely remain their plan.
Donaldson’s injury would limit the depth chart in the short term with Etienne still out, but unless the Saints build momentum on Sunday toward genuine belief in chasing a division title in the NFC South, then the undrafted rookie’s ailment shouldn’t factor into the long-term picture of what other RB trades could accomplish.
Saints Rule RB Out, Complicating Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller Trade Rumors