Bresee set to undergo season-ending surgery, dealing blow to Saints

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

DT Bryan Bresee set to undergo season-ending surgery, dealing major blow to Saints defense

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Aug 2, 2026 2:51 PM ET

The New Orleans Saints defense is already short-staffed.

On Sunday, Saints head coach Kellen Moore confirmed defensive tackle Bryan Bresee tore the ACL in his left knee and is now set to undergo season-ending surgery. The former Clemson Tigers standout suffered the injury during practice on Wednesday.

How does Bryan Bresee's injury impact Saints defense?

Since the Saints selected him with pick No. 29 in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bresee has become a defensive line staple. The DT, who turns 25 on Oct. 6, has played 49 games for the team, logging 86 tackles and 14.5 sacks. Last season, he recorded a career-high 37 tackles in 15 games.

Adding to the Saints' problems is their lack of depth on the D-line. New Orleans re-signed eight-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Cameron Jordan to a one-year deal this offseason, but he's the NFC South squad's only other strong interior presence.

Saints HC Kellen Moore confirmed Bryan Bresee will undergo season-ending surgery after tearing his ACL. pic.twitter.com/P4vjR2X1AG
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 2, 2026

John Ridgeway III is Bresee's backup. He has never had more than 31 tackles in a season in four years with the Saints and Washington Commanders. The Saints may want to consider moving second-year DT Vernon Broughton to the right side of the D-line to help replace Bresee, but the former Texas Longhorn remains unproven. After New Orleans selected him with pick No. 71 in the 2025 draft, he played in one game, registering three tackles.

The Saints grabbed Georgia Bulldogs DT Christen Miller with the 42nd pick in the 2026 draft to shore up their D-line. The 6-foot-3, 321-pound defender may offer the most upside. He earned a 2025 first-team All-SEC nod, and, of course, Georgia is known for producing top D-linemen, including Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Leaning heavily on a rookie is always risky, but the Saints may have no other choice. Last season, New Orleans ranked 14th in the NFL in points allowed (22.5 per game) and ninth in yards allowed (299.8 per game). To make the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season, the franchise needs its defense to stay solid.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads: