Kellen Moore confirms Ty Chandler will miss the season with a knee injury

New Orleans Saints running back Ty Chandler will miss the entire 2026 season after suffering a season-ending knee injury, coach Kellen Moore confirmed Tuesday. The update immediately changes the outlook for New Orleans’ backfield depth as the team heads deeper into the regular-season build, with Chandler unable to take part for the year.

Moore’s confirmation came after Chandler was hurt during New Orleans’ preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. While preseason injuries often test depth charts more than game plans, a knee injury described as season-ending carries a different weight because it removes a player from the rotation rather than simply delaying his timeline.

For the Saints, Chandler’s absence places extra pressure on the running back group that remains available for early-down and ball-carrying roles. In a league where modern offenses tend to rely on multiple backs for game-to-game efficiency, losing a lead-piece option can force play-calling adjustments and require other backs to absorb expanded workload.

Moore’s role as an offensive decision-maker makes the timing of the confirmation notable. With roster decisions continuing to narrow and the team’s September evaluation process still underway, the coaching staff has to recalibrate its approach to touches, run-fit responsibilities, and how the offense balances between the ground game and pass plays. Chandler’s injury shifts that balance immediately from preseason planning to a longer-term roster question.

The injury also affects how the Saints manage practice reps and the overall development curve for the backs who step into larger roles. Even when an offense has established starters, preseason setbacks can reveal how quickly the team can rally behind replacements, particularly in the areas of pass protection and route awareness that are crucial for running backs in many passing-game concepts.

What to watch next is how New Orleans reshapes the backfield rotation. Chandler’s season-ending status means the Saints will need reliable production from other running backs in both run and pass scenarios, and it will likely accelerate how quickly roles become defined for the remaining group.