The New Orleans Saints lost more than just the football game in their 26-14 Week 7 defeat; they lost a key piece of their offense. It was confirmed on Monday that third-year running back Kendre Miller tore his ACL against the Chicago Bears, and will miss the rest of the season. Miller had become a key piece of this New Orleans offense that was looking for a spark. He averaged nine or more touches in each of his last four games.

Alvin Kamara is 30 years old and has never been an every-down running back. Rookie running back Devin Neal is likely to see an increased workload in the absence of Kendre Miller. 

Neal was drafted in the sixth round in a 2025 Draft that was rich in running back talent. Neal had a phenomenal career at Kansas, rushing for over 4,000 yards and 49 touchdowns in 4 years, along with 700 receiving yards. He graduated from Kansas as their all-time leading rusher. He fell to Day 3 of the NFL Draft due to a below average 4.58 40-yard dash. His 37.5 inch vertical jump, however, demonstrates some explosiveness in Neal’s game.

Devin Neal impressed in camp and has gotten some rave reviews from those in the organization. This is what five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara had to say on him:

“He's probably one of the smartest rookies that I've been around as far as like, at the position. You know, he processes everything, he understands everything, he understands concepts, he understands why, when, how, like, he understands all that. So, I ain't worried about Devin getting in the game and getting reps at all.”

Neal has the opportunity for a large role in this offense. He excels with size, intelligence, and contact balance. He will be best utilized running between the tackles, making him an excellent complement to Alvin Kamara. Though Neal is not the quickest back, he possesses an excellent balance of patience and decisiveness. He prioritizes ball security, thrives in short-yardage scenarios, and holds up well in pass blocking. He puts his head down and gets the tough yards.

Devin Neal simply does everything right. While his style of running may not be the flashiest, it gets the job done. He is a pro’s pro and has exceeded expectations time and time again. Expect more of the same next Sunday when the Saints host the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers.