The New Orleans Saints' season hasn't exactly gone as planned, evidenced by the fact that you see names like Audric Estime and Kevin Austin Jr. on the roster at all.
Austin was with the Saints a year ago, but both years he began on the practice squad. As far as Estime? He wasn't even with the Saints until midway through the year, ultimately climbing up to the active roster due to injury attrition. But when the Saints needed it most, it was those two players finding the end zone for 4th quarter touchdowns to seal a 34-26 win over the Titans.
The touchdown was a career first for Austin, and the 94 rushing yards were by far a career high for Estime.
"It’s really emotional for me, but it’s just representative of the person I am, the people in my life around me," Estime said. "When you’re knocked around you’ve just got to get back up and it’s representative of what this team has been all year."
Estime was a 5th round pick of the Broncos last season before falling down the depth chart during training camp. He arrived in New Orleans well down the depth chart, as well, but he worked behind the scenes and awaited his opportunity. Long-term injuries to Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller, followed more recently by an injury to rookie Devin Neal opened the door, but it wasn't until the second half against the Titans that he really walked through it.
The bruising running back had logged just 13 carries up through the first half against the Titans, but he nearly doubled that total with 12 carries for 88 yards in the second half, highlighted by a 32-yard touchdown run that gave the Saints breathing room for their 4th consecutive win.
"I didn't know in this game if I was going to get 20 carries, if I was going to get two carries," Estime said. "It's just really stay ready whenever your time is called."
Staying ready has been a necessary theme for the Saints with backups playing at a large number of key positions. Along with running back the Saints' offense has turned to a backup center, right guard and left guard. The tight end depth has disappeared due to injury, forcing rookie Moliki Matavao and Treyton Welch into the action. Dante Pettis and Austin had significant roles at WR due to injury and the absence of Mason Tipton due to illness. The Saints made the change to Tyler Shough at quarterback midseason, as well as Charlie Smyth at kicker. On defense the Saints are relying on rookie starters at safety in Jonas Sanker and outside cornerback with Quincy Riley.
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The signs are positive for the future, with the team continuing to find ways to win, including this game, with the Saints overcoming a 10-point deficit at halftime. There will be no postseason, but there is belief.
“I feel like we just don’t care [about who is available]. ... we’re here for a reason. We’re going to go out there and operate. There’s no, 'ah, man, if we had this' or 'ah, this is a good opponent.' let’s go out there and play football, man. This is why you do it, and that’s kind of my message, like, what a great opportunity," Shough said. "Next man up, now you get to go make plays and everybody stepped up. Everybody did an incredible job.”
The Saints' next opportunity for the next man up will come in Week 18 when New Orleans closes out its 2025 slate with a visit to Atlanta and a showdown with the rival Falcons at noon, Sunday. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.