New Orleans Saints Surprisingly Terminate Veteran RB

The New Orleans Saints waived running back Kendre Miller on Saturday, ending the tenure of their leading rusher just one day before hosting the Cleveland Browns.

The move, announced by the team, surprised observers because Miller had carried the ball more than any other Saint this season and led the team in rushing yards.

Yet the 24-year-old’s production told a different story. In six games he managed only 159 yards on 57 carries, a 2.8-yard average that ranked among the worst marks in the league for backs with at least 40 attempts.

He added two touchdowns and nine catches for 37 yards, but the inefficiency proved decisive.

Miller’s release fits a broader effort to revitalize a struggling ground attack. Earlier in the week the Saints fired run-game coordinator T.J. Paganetti and claimed Audric Estime off waivers from the Browns.

Estime had spent last season and training camp in New Orleans before an injury settlement sent him elsewhere.

With Travis Etienne still on injured reserve recovering from a hamstring injury and undrafted rookie C.J. Donaldson ruled out by concussion and shoulder issues, Estime is positioned to handle a significant share of carries alongside Alvin Kamara against Cleveland.

The Saints also needed a roster spot to activate first-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson from injured reserve, making Miller’s departure a practical as well as a performance-based decision.

Miller arrived in New Orleans as a third-round pick (71st overall) out of TCU in 2023 after a standout college career that included 1,399 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior.

Injuries repeatedly interrupted his development. Soft-tissue problems, an ankle issue, a concussion, and a Grade 3 ACL tear suffered against the Chicago Bears in Week 7 of 2025 limited him to roughly half the possible games across his first three seasons.

Even after returning this year in the final season of his rookie contract, he never established consistent efficiency or durability. Over his NFL career he finished with 184 carries for 656 yards (3.6 yards per attempt) and five total touchdowns.

If Miller clears waivers he becomes a free agent and could land on another roster or practice squad.

The Saints, sitting at 2-5, will turn to a reshaped backfield as they try to avoid a poor home start and generate more production on the ground.

For a player once viewed as a potential long-term complement or successor to Kamara, the release marks the end of a promising but injury-plagued chapter in New Orleans.