Saints, Kellen Moore must rely on rookie after latest injury

The NFL preseason isn’t supposed to force rookies into important roles before Week 1. New Orleans may no longer have a choice. Dillon Radunz’s torn ACL has eliminated one of the Saints’ most valuable offensive-line depth pieces for the entire 2026 season. Radunz wasn’t projected as one of New Orleans’ starting five, but his versatility provided the kind of insurance every offensive line eventually needs.  MORE: NFL top 5 richest teams in 2026 Now Kellen Moore has to find that insurance somewhere else. Fourth-round rookie Jeremiah Wright suddenly matters so much more. Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore on the sideline against the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Wright arrived from Auburn with experience at right guard and the kind of power that translates immediately to the NFL. Moore has already praised his physicality during camp, and the Saints are expected to give him valuable preseason and joint-practice reps following Radunz’s injury.  That development needs to accelerate. MORE: Rating every NFL game on the Monday Night Football schedule in 2026 Nobody should expect Wright to become an immediate high-level starter. That’s unfair for a fourth-round rookie still learning NFL protections, technique and tempo. But New Orleans doesn’t need him to be one. It needs Wright to become playable. Jul 30, 2026; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints guard Jeremiah Wright (64) blocks New Orleans Saints linebacker Jackson Sirmon (45) during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images The Saints’ offensive line has spent too many seasons being undermined by injuries and insufficient depth. Radunz was supposed to help change that. Losing him means Wright now has an opportunity – and responsibility – that probably wasn’t envisioned when camp opened. There’s also a potential long-term benefit. MORE: 8 retired NFL star players making their Hall of Fame ballot debuts in 2027 Every meaningful snap Wright receives now accelerates his development. If he proves capable of handling NFL defensive linemen during preseason, Moore may have found an inexpensive interior lineman who can eventually become much more than emergency depth. Radunz’s injury was unquestionably bad news. But it also opened a door. Now the Saints need their rookie to walk through it. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —