The New Orleans Saints got their chance to bring back Audric Estime last week. They didn't waste that opportunity -- and neither did he.
The 23-year-old back rejoined the team where he spent the second half of 2025 and this past preseason, and he couldn't have been happier about that, as he relayed to Voice of the Saints Mike Hoss this week in a wide-ranging interview on WWL Radio.
"This is home," Estime said. "I had felt like I had unfinished business here, so I didn’t want to pack up everything I had and put a close on this chapter. I felt like there’s still so many things I needed to do in New Orleans and I was hoping I would find my way back and that’s what happened.”
Hear the full interview with Saints RB Audric Estime in the player above.
What made the return even more dramatic was the fact that he had spent the past three weeks on the Browns roster, but Cleveland surprising opted to waive him right before their matchup with the Saints. Prior to that the Browns had signed Estime off the Vikings practice squad. Estime traveled to New Orleans with the Vikings in Week 5, but he was not active for the game.
After proving to coaches he still had a strong grasp on their playbook and could pick up the new concepts that had been installed since he departed ahead of Week 3, the team opted to hand him a featured role and chose to waive former third-round pick Kendre Miller. Estime responded by taking the first three carries for 9, 4 and 15 yards, surpassing the total rushing output the Saints had in their loss to the Steelers in the opening moments against Cleveland.
He finished the game with 72 yards on 15 carries, and plowed in from 2 yards out for a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute.
“I was like, this is definitely going to be one of those days. I think this team was very hungry coming into this game," Estime continued. "We had a great week of preparation and I think we just wanted to pride ourself on starting fast. … I was kind of just locked in. I was in that mindset, was in that zone.”
The next question will be: Just how does this backfield look moving forward. Estime has made as strong a case as any to continue to be featured, but the Saints will have to square that with the impending return of RB Travis Etienne. The star free agent acquisition has been sidelined since going out with a hamstring injury in Week 3, but could get on the field to practice ahead of Week 10. Regardless, don't expect Estime to be phased out any time soon.
"I feel like this week I had an opportunity to show what I’m capable of," Estime said. "That’s all you can do is wish and pray for an opportunity and I just prayed that I’ve earned the opportunity because opportunities aren’t given, they’re earned.”
The Saints (3-5) host the Panthers (3-5) for a noon kickoff Sunday inside the Caesars Superdome, with the winner taking over sole possession of the NFC South lead. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.
