Home / Sports / Saints Waive Injured Duo: Neal & Heldman Seek New Teams
Saints Waive Injured Duo: Neal & Heldman Seek New Teams
4 Sep
Summary
- Devin Neal and Michael Heldman were waived from injured reserve.
- Both players can now sign with other NFL teams this season.
- The Saints cannot re-sign them until their settlement periods expire.
The New Orleans Saints made roster moves on Thursday, waiving running back Devin Neal and edge rusher Michael Heldman from injured reserve with injury settlements. Both players had been placed on injured reserve before final roster cutdowns, indicating they would miss the entire 2026 season. Their release now permits them to be claimed by other NFL teams, offering them a chance to play this year.
The Saints retain the possibility of re-signing Neal and Heldman. However, league regulations mandate a three-week penalty period following the expiration of their injury settlements. This rule is designed to prevent teams from strategically using injured reserve as a "return list." New Orleans had already utilized their two allowable spots on this list with Jordyn Tyson and Jaylan Ford, leaving open the option for Neal or Heldman to return to the team later in the 2026 season if not signed elsewhere.
