The New Orleans Saints will be without starting defensive tackle Bryan Bresee for the remainder of the 2026 season. Head coach Kellen Moore confirmed that Bresee requires surgery to repair a torn ACL following an injury sustained during the team's opening practice of training camp last week.
Teammates described the injury as a freak occurrence that happened during a routine pass rush drill. Despite the lack of contact on the play, the damage to the knee is significant enough to end his season prematurely. Bresee previously dealt with a similar injury to his left knee during his college career at Clemson.
Bresee entered this season as a central figure for the Saints defensive front. After being selected in the first round of the 2023 draft, he started 15 games last year and recorded 14.5 career sacks. The organization recently secured his future by picking up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
In his absence, the coaching staff is turning to veterans and younger depth players to maintain the line. Defensive end Chase Young noted that the team expects players like Nathan Shepherd and Vernon Broughton to increase their contributions immediately. While the loss of a starter is difficult, the defensive unit plans to rely on a rotation to fill the gap left by the injury.