Bryan Bresee ACL tear ends Saints DT's 2026 season

Bryan Bresee ACL tear ends his 2026 season before it starts

Bryan Bresee, DT for the New Orleans Saints, will undergo season-ending surgery on a torn ACL, head coach Kellen Moore confirmed to reporters. The injury happened during one of the early team periods of the Saints' first training camp practice and appeared to be non-contact. Moore described it as "a goofy deal where obviously something unfortunately happened."

Bresee, 24, was the No. 29 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He had started at least 10 games in each of the last two seasons and recorded 14.5 sacks in 49 career games. The Saints had already picked up his fifth-year option, valued at over $13 million, keeping him under contract through 2027. He was set to anchor the defensive line under coordinator Brandon Staley in 2026.

What this means for the Saints' defensive line

With Bresee out, the Saints will lean on Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd, Vernon Broughton, and rookie Christen Miller. Broughton, a 2025 third-round pick, played in just one game last year. Miller, a second-round pick in the 2026 draft out of Georgia, will now be asked to contribute immediately. Moore acknowledged the opportunity directly: "If Bryan is out for a while, certainly, we're going to expect a lot of these other guys to take the next step."

Given the lack of experience in that room, the Saints could pursue a veteran DT in the coming weeks.

Fantasy impact

DTs are not rostered in standard fantasy formats, so Bresee's absence does not hit your lineup directly. The real effect is on the Saints' pass rush as a unit. A thinner, younger defensive line could make New Orleans easier to move the ball against, which is a mild boost to opposing skill-position players on the schedule. If the Saints add a veteran DT, that move is worth tracking for dynasty managers who roster Saints defenders or opponents on their schedule.