{"id":166121,"date":"2026-03-18T13:46:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T13:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=166121"},"modified":"2026-03-18T13:46:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T13:46:31","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8breaking-saints-make-a-power-move-by-signing-former-vikings-rb-with-a-4-38-40-yard-dash-to-back-up-travis-etienne-jr-the-addition-of-this-speedster-instantly-boosts-new-orleans-backfie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=166121","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8BREAKING: SAINTS MAKE A POWER MOVE BY SIGNING FORMER VIKINGS RB WITH A 4.38 40-YARD DASH TO BACK UP TRAVIS ETIENNE JR. The addition of this speedster instantly boosts New Orleans&#8217; backfield depth, giving them another explosive option for the 2026 season. Across the NFL, fans are watching closely to see how this dynamic pairing could shake up the Saints&#8217; offensive game plan. \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"bg-white rounded-lg shadow-sm overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"p-0 md:p-6\">\n<div class=\"prose max-w-none article-content\">\n<div class=\"article-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"article-main-content\">\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p>New Orleans, Louisiana \u2013 The New Orleans Saints are continuing to reshape their roster for the 2026 season with the addition of Ty Chandler, a former Minnesota Vikings running back. Chandler, who is known for his blazing speed, running a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, is set to join the Saints on a one-year deal to provide backup depth behind starting running back Travis Etienne Jr.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p>Chandler, 27, was drafted by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and while his tenure in Minnesota has been somewhat underwhelming, he showed glimpses of promise during his time with the team. In 2023, Chandler rushed for 461 yards and three touchdowns on 102 carries, adding 159 receiving yards with 21 catches. However, his time with the Vikings didn\u2019t see him fully take over the starting role, and his usage was limited to more of a rotational back.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sport365.azontree.com\/_next\/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdashboard.smarttraffic.app%2F..%2Fuploads%2Fusers%2F678%2F1959d8da-ac21-4ee5-8483-e3124048d861.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75\" alt=\"Article image\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p>This signing adds valuable depth to the Saints\u2019 running back room, which now features a strong rotation led by Etienne. The Saints have already made some significant moves this offseason, including re-signing key players and addressing other roster needs. Adding Chandler is part of their plan to solidify the backfield, especially with some uncertainty surrounding Alvin Kamara\u2019s future with the team. With Kamara\u2019s status still up in the air and the potential for future changes, Chandler\u2019s signing gives the Saints a reliable backup option with explosive speed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<blockquote><p>\u201cTy\u2019s a guy we\u2019ve been keeping an eye on,\u201d said Saints\u2019 GM Mickey Loomis. \u201cHe brings a lot of tools to the table, and we\u2019re excited to see what he can contribute to our offense. His speed and versatility are qualities that will fit well into our system.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>While Chandler\u2019s NFL career has yet to take off, his potential as a backup to Etienne could pay dividends for the Saints in 2026. His ability to make plays both in the running game and as a receiving threat gives the Saints more flexibility in the backfield.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p>As the Saints continue to build their offensive lineup, Chandler\u2019s role as a complementary piece to Etienne and a key asset in the rotation makes him a valuable addition to their squad. This signing, while not a headline-grabbing move, is an example of the Saints\u2019 strategic approach to ensuring depth and versatility on their roster as they prepare for the upcoming season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"bg-white rounded-lg shadow-sm py-3 px-0 md:p-6\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New Orleans, Louisiana \u2013 The New Orleans Saints are continuing to reshape their roster for the 2026 season with the addition of Ty Chandler, a former Minnesota&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":166122,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-166121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\ud83d\udea8BREAKING: SAINTS MAKE A POWER MOVE BY SIGNING FORMER VIKINGS RB WITH A 4.38 40-YARD DASH TO BACK UP TRAVIS ETIENNE JR. The addition of this speedster instantly boosts New Orleans&#039; backfield depth, giving them another explosive option for the 2026 season. Across the NFL, fans are watching closely to see how this dynamic pairing could shake up the Saints&#039; offensive game plan. \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=166121\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udea8BREAKING: SAINTS MAKE A POWER MOVE BY SIGNING FORMER VIKINGS RB WITH A 4.38 40-YARD DASH TO BACK UP TRAVIS ETIENNE JR. The addition of this speedster instantly boosts New Orleans&#039; backfield depth, giving them another explosive option for the 2026 season. 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