Alvin

Kamara

In other words, the Saints want Kamara to take a paycut after a down and injury-riddled year as he enters his age-31 season. The Saints could also still release him or trade him, per Paras. Kellen Moore said Kamara is “certainly on the roster” on Monday, but it sounds like that might not be the case much longer.

If we’re reading between the lines, Moore didn’t exactly give a “yes” or “no” answer, but he did say that Kamara is “part of the running back room” and added that the combination of Kamara and Travis Etienne is “a great situation” for the team. Moore was evasive about Kamara’s future with the team when asked about it earlier this month, and there have been rumors that the soon-to-be 31-year-old back may opt to retire this offseason. Kamara’s opportunities are expected to drop significantly with Etienne now in the building, but he could still see plenty of usage as a third-down option if he remains on the team in 2026. For now, Kamara is a Saint, but Moore’s quote didn’t exactly instill confidence that he’ll remain with the team this season.

“We’d like to go through that process, certainly,” Moore said, rather unhelpfully. “And so we feel, obviously we know Alvin means a lot to us. Again, we’re three days into this thing, we signed Travis (Etienne) and we’ll go through that process.” Alrighty then. Moore also declined comment completely on rumors Kamara might retire. That kind of cagey language certainly suggests Moore does not expect Kamara back with the squad for 2026, either via release or retirement. Fully entrenched with the Saints for the better part of a decade, it’s an open question whether Kamara would be willing to play elsewhere, especially for what would undoubtedly be a low guaranteed base salary.

The Saints restructured Kamara’s contract last week, making it easier for them to move on from him this offseason if they choose to do so. They then signed Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract on the opening day of the legal tampering period. The Saints couldn’t make it more obvious that they are moving on from Kamara if they tried. The bigger question is whether he will retire or continue to play football on a new team. Schefter added that teams are tracking the situation, meaning there will likely be some GMs interested in signing or trading for Kamara if he doesn’t hang up the cleats. Kamara is best suited for primarily pass-catching duties at this point in his career, but plenty of teams could find a role for him in 2026.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported last week that Etienne “could fit” with the Saints. Now, the 27-year-old back is headed to the Big Easy to presumably take over as the team’s RB1, immediately putting Alvin Kamara’s already uncertain future even more in doubt. Etienne rushed 260 times for 1,107 yards last season while also scoring seven times on the ground. He added another 36 catches for 292 yards and six receptions, averaging a solid 5.6 yards per touch on the season. Etienne is a versatile three-down back whose pass-catching upside will put him in the conversation as a high-end RB2 in fantasy leagues next season. Assuming a high-volume role in New Orleans, he should have a chance to replicate last year’s success when he finished as the RB14 in fantasy points per game.

Isn’t it that way for all of us, though. She continues that the team is “possibly looking to get younger and spend less at this position.” Kamara’s contract adjustment earlier this week was unusual, and Terrell noted that it freed up cap space “while providing flexibility if they part ways with the running back this year.” It would not be surprising at all if the Saints released Kamara in the coming days.

The Saints are converting $10.155 million of Kamara’s 2026 base salary into a signing bonus, which will clear just over $8 million in cap space. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero notes that this decision will keep the Saints’ “options open on Kamara’s contract and status moving forward.” Kamara rushed for 131-471-1 in 11 games last season and also caught a career-low 33 passes. Even if he remains with the Saints for next season, it’s safe to assume that he could see a reduced role once Kendre Miller is back or if they make a big splash at RB in free agency or the draft.

Kamara has been sidelined since suffering an MCL sprain in Week 12. He played through a multi-week ankle injury before that. Kamara was the subject of early-season trade rumors, but the lifelong Saint reportedly made clear that he wanted to remain in New Orleans. Kamara has one year remaining on his contract, but he may be replaced as the team’s starter in 2026. He was surprisingly phased out of the passing game, while active, in head coach Kellen Moore’s first season. This year, Kamara rushed 131 times for 471 yards and one touchdown, while catching 33-of-39 targets for 186 yards.

The team opted not to place Kamara on injured reserve, though he has been sidelined since Week 12. Unless something drastic occurs, Saints RB Audric Estime will start in Kamara’s stead against the Falcons on Sunday. Both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs, but it still gives coaches a chance to evaluate key players one last time.

Kamara has neither practiced nor played since spraining his MCL in Week 12. He was already dealing with an ankle injury at that time. We expect him to remain sidelined in Week 18 against the Falcons. Saints RB Audric Estime will again operate as the team’s starter.