Saints place running back Ty Chandler and tight end Moliki Matavao on injured reserve

The New Orleans Saints announced on Tuesday that running back Ty Chandler and tight end Moliki Matavao will undergo season-ending surgeries to address knee injuries sustained during their 34-0 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. The devastating blows to both players occurred just a day after the team placed defensive back Rejzohn Wright on injured reserve.

Chandler and Matavao were on the cusp of making the 53-man roster prior to their injuries. Chandler notably returned a kickoff 86 yards in the preseason opener and contributed 12 carries for 45 yards. Matavao, a seventh-round pick in 2025, added three catches for 34 yards in exhibition games. Other notable injuries to the Saints' roster include starting defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and reserve offensive lineman Dillon Radunz, who both suffered knee ligament tears during training camp.