Saints guard Dillon Radunz out for 2025 season

New Orleans Saints guard Dillon Radunz will miss the rest of the 2025 NFL season after suffering a torn ACL during individual practice drills on Saturday, officials said. The injury removes a key depth piece from the team’s interior offensive line plan just as training camp evaluations intensify.

Radunz’s diagnosis is also the Saints’ second major ACL tear of the current camp. Defensive lineman Bryan Bresee previously sustained a similar injury, adding another significant absence to the team’s preseason preparation.

Radunz’s expected role on the Saints line

Radunz arrived in New Orleans this offseason on a two-year, 6.9 million dollar contract after beginning his career with the Tennessee Titans as a former second-round draft pick. He was projected to be the primary backup behind starting left guard David Edwards, a role that relied heavily on experience and flexibility within the weekly game-day rotation.

With Radunz now unavailable, the Saints face a clearer depth deficiency inside. His absence reduces the coaching staff’s ability to move players around in response to injuries and matchup needs, particularly within the second unit.

2024 workload and versatility now missing

During the 2024 season, Radunz played 699 offensive snaps and made 10 starts. Those numbers reflected a utility profile: he could be used across multiple offensive line spots when asked, giving the team an experienced option to stabilize protection and run-game assignments.

That versatility is a central part of what the Saints lose with this injury. Without him, the remaining interior rotation must cover additional responsibilities, and the margin for further injuries becomes smaller.

How New Orleans can fill the vacancy

The Saints will now have to assess whether the replacement comes from inside the roster or from outside the building before the regular season begins. Internal options would likely mean expanding roles for younger linemen already in camp, while external options would involve examining the free-agent market for veteran help.

Officials indicated the team’s priority will be adding a player who can provide immediate depth, while also being capable of competing for a starting role if circumstances require it. With two ACL losses in camp, New Orleans must adjust how it builds resilience along the line for the 2025 season.