Countdown to Kickoff: Terrell Burgess is the Saints Player of Day 26

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Countdown to Kickoff: Terrell Burgess is the Saints Player of Day 26

Countdown to Kickoff: Terrell Burgess is the Saints Player of Day 26

Bob Rose , Saints Wire · Saints Wire

Tue, Aug 18, 2026 ·

3 min read

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We are down to 26 days before the New Orleans Saints 2026 season opener. The Saints will travel north to take on the Detroit Lions to kick off the year on Sunday, Sept. 13. Safety Terrell Burgess is wearing No. 26 for New Orleans in training camp.

Burgess was brought in by the Saints last offseason to offer veteran depth to the safety position. In doing so, he was also reunited with defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. When Burgess was drafted by the Rams in 2020, Staley was his defensive coordinator for his first season. Now, Burgess is our most recent Saints Player of the Day.

Name (age): Terrell Burgess (27)
Hometown: San Marcos, Cal.
Position: Safety
Height, weight: 5-foot-11, 202 pounds
College: Utah Utes
Relative Athletic Score: 8.1
Drafted: Round 3, 104 overall in 2020 (Rams)
NFL experience: 5 years
2026 salary cap hit: $1.1 million

From San Marcos High School in California, Burgess committed to the University of Utah. He'd spend his first three seasons as a little-used reserve. As a senior in 2019, Burgess finally earned a starting role. He responded by finishing third on the Utes with 81 tackles, including 8 for loss and a half sack. Burgess also had 1 interception, broke up 5 passes, and had 2 fumble recoveries. He'd shown enough for the Los Angeles Rams and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley to select him at the end of the third round in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Burgess appeared in seven games as a reserve safety and special teamer during his rookie year before a broken ankle ended his season. The following year, Burgess played in 16 games with two starts as a member of a Rams defense that helped the team to a Super Bowl LVI title. Los Angeles released Burgess eight games into the 2022 season, where he'd be picked up by the New York Giants but make just one game appearance. Burgess was signed by Washington during the 2023 offseason in free agency. He'd be with Washington only one year, recording a career-best 25 tackles over 12 contests. In 2024, Burgess signed a free-agent deal with the Buffalo Bills , but was released at the end of training camp.

Signed by the Saints as a free agent in March of 2025, Burgess appeared in 16 of 17 games for New Orleans last season. Most of that action was on special teams, where he saw 205 snaps. He'd get 115 snaps on defense, just 11% of the total on that side of the ball. In 2026, Burgess is among the competitors at an improved safety position. Julian Blackmon returns from injury to join Jonas Sanker and Justin Reid for the probable top three spots. Rookie Lorenzo Styles Jr. is making a strong push for a job early in camp, leaving Burgess to battle Jordan Howden for possibly the final spot at the position.

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LOOK: Photos from Saints-Jaguars joint practice on Aug. 13

Aug 13, 2026; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints safety Julian Blackmon (23) intercepts a pass from Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) intended for wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (3) during a joint scrimmage during at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

(Stephen Lew, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)