- May 21, 2026
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Not long after defensive tackle Bryan Bresee went down with a knee injury came word that the Saints feared a torn ACL. Saints coach Kellen Moore appeared on WWL Radio on Wednesday afternoon and confirmed that the initial diagnosis didn't deliver good news.
"No one kind of ran into each other; no one fell on anyone," Moore said. "It was just kind of a goofy deal where obviously something unfortunately happened and so it took a little bit, I think, for him to realize what it felt like. It felt like a little bit of something and then once they checked it out, obviously we’ll continue to finalize all that, but it doesn’t look great.”
If the MRI confirms Bresee tore his ACL, his season will end on injured reserve.
The Saints have Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd, rookie Christen Miller, Vernon Broughton and John Ridgeway, among others, at the position.
"That’s the cycle of the NFL and in an unfortunate but opportunistic way," Moore said. "Guys unfortunately go through things and they don’t become available, and it’s the opportunity for someone else to step up and take advantage. . . . And so if Bryan is out for a while, certainly, we’re going to expect a lot of these other guys to take the next step.”
The Saints exercised Bresee's fifth-year option this offseason, so he is under contract for next season.
New Orleans made Bresee a first-round pick in 2023, and he has totaled 86 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 49 career games. He started all 15 games he played in 2025.
"No one kind of ran into each other; no one fell on anyone," Moore said. "It was just kind of a goofy deal where obviously something unfortunately happened and so it took a little bit, I think, for him to realize what it felt like. It felt like a little bit of something and then once they checked it out, obviously we’ll continue to finalize all that, but it doesn’t look great.”
If the MRI confirms Bresee tore his ACL, his season will end on injured reserve.
The Saints have Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd, rookie Christen Miller, Vernon Broughton and John Ridgeway, among others, at the position.
"That’s the cycle of the NFL and in an unfortunate but opportunistic way," Moore said. "Guys unfortunately go through things and they don’t become available, and it’s the opportunity for someone else to step up and take advantage. . . . And so if Bryan is out for a while, certainly, we’re going to expect a lot of these other guys to take the next step.”
The Saints exercised Bresee's fifth-year option this offseason, so he is under contract for next season.
New Orleans made Bresee a first-round pick in 2023, and he has totaled 86 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 49 career games. He started all 15 games he played in 2025.