Saints RB Kendre Miller ready to seize bigger role in contract year

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Saints RB Kendre Miller ready to seize bigger role in contract year

Saints RB Kendre Miller ready to seize bigger role in contract year

Arye Pulli, Saints Wire

Tue, Aug 25, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Kendre Miller has found himself at a critical point in his career. With training camp chatter amplifying that he could be on the outside looking in at the New Orleans Saints ' 53-man roster, Miller seems to have discovered some momentum — though that momentum has coincided with a suddenly depleted Saints running back room.

When healthy, Miller, the Saints' 2023 third-round pick, has continued to flash talent. However, he's only played 21 games across three seasons. In 2023, it was a sprained ankle. In 2024 training camp, he suffered a hamstring strain, knocking him out for several weeks before straining his other hamstring just a few weeks later. Last season? A torn ACL in mid-October, ending his season prematurely.

Now healthy after working his way back from the ACL injury, Miller has a prime opportunity to stand out in the final week of the preseason. Alvin Kamara sprained his MCL and is expected to miss several weeks, leaving Miller with the chance to shine — and potentially carve a role behind Travis Etienne Jr.

"I probably have a bigger role now since AK's down. So, I'm going to just take that and try to run with it," Miller told reporters after practice on Monday . "I'm going to step up and give it my all for sure."

Miller isn't celebrating Kamara's injury, but he does understand what it means for him. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, he knows what's at stake: "This year is my contract year. So, I mean, I just want to put together a full season of me being healthy. And I know when I'm out there, it's going to take care of the rest. So, I just have to put together a full healthy season."

Miller believes the talent isn't a question. Availability has been his biggest issue. For the 24-year-old running back, it's something that he's had to grow from. The pattern of starts and stops during his first three NFL seasons has been evident, but those setbacks have also changed him personally.

"I feel like the injuries helped me become a man and just how to handle everything, and just grew me up really fast," Miller said of the previous three seasons. "I feel like the injuries to me have been a blessing in disguise."

Now, Miller's equation is simple. If he can stay healthy and take advantage of an increased workload, he'll put himself in position to be a key contributor for the 2026 Saints while strengthening his case ahead of free agency.