Vikes sign RB Devin Neal

Not sure how excited to be (or not) but nice pick-up b4 the Saints game lol!

He was part of that stacked 2025 RB class so I watched a bit of him. Good size, good receiver, can pass block, huge production at Kansas. But there was a reason he went in the 6th round, and a reason the Saints released him.

I also remember some talk about him being the best back to come out of Kansas and how I thought that sounded odd considering Gale Sayers went to Kansas. But Neal is the Jayhawks all time leading rusher.

I guess Cam Akers wasn't available?

MaroonBells wrote:

He was part of that stacked 2025 RB class so I watched a bit of him. Good size, good receiver, can pass block, huge production at Kansas. But there was a reason he went in the 6th round, and a reason the Saints released him.
I also remember some talk about him being the best back to come out of Kansas and how I thought that sounded odd considering Gale Sayers went to Kansas. But Neal is the Jayhawks all time leading rusher.
I guess Cam Akers wasn't available?

🤞

The New Orleans Saints waived running back Devin Neal from injured reserve with an injury settlement in September 2026. 

• Hamstring Injury: He re-aggravated a lingering hamstring injury during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams.

• Injured Reserve: The team initially placed him on injured reserve without a return designation as they set their 53-man roster, which would have sidelined him for the entire 2026 season.

• Roster Decision: The Saints instead opted to part ways via an injury settlement, making him a free agent eligible to sign with other teams once he heals. Neal had previously rushed for 206 yards as a rookie in 2025 after being drafted out of Kansas

MaroonBells wrote:

He was part of that stacked 2025 RB class so I watched a bit of him. Good size, good receiver, can pass block, huge production at Kansas. But there was a reason he went in the 6th round, and a reason the Saints released him.
I also remember some talk about him being the best back to come out of Kansas and how I thought that sounded odd considering Gale Sayers went to Kansas. But Neal is the Jayhawks all time leading rusher.
I guess Cam Akers wasn't available?

Neal was a really good, versatile back at KU, but to be the all time leading rusher means nothing as KU has sucked for many many many years. Without searching it up, name the last RB to have notoriety out of Kansas University? My point is that Neal didn't have to do too much to take these honors. 😜

I'm intrigued to see how Neal fits this offense and if he can compete for playing time and perform when called upon. I like the addition.

Why not

We desperately need someone who can help out at RB now, it is painfully obvious that Dallas or Claiborne are not that guy. Jones played way over his usual snap count last week and it really showed as he was beat in the last quarter.

I was thinking Ford would be someone they would promote this week, but looks like it did not work out. I do not understand why they do not sign Scott off the Bears PS as he is someone who can come in and play this week, which is what we need.

JR44 wrote:

We desperately need someone who can help out at RB now, it is painfully obvious that Dallas or Claiborne are not that guy. Jones played way over his usual snap count last week and it really showed as he was beat in the last quarter.
I was thinking Ford would be someone they would promote this week, but looks like it did not work out. I do not understand why they do not sign Scott off the Bears PS as he is someone who can come in and play this week, which is what we need.

Ford looked like a decent option, but perhaps wasn't grasping the offense.

But yeah, why not Scott? Seems like a no brainer. He isn't anything special, but is competent and knows the offense.

greediron wrote:

Ford looked like a decent option, but perhaps wasn't grasping the offense.
But yeah, why not Scott? Seems like a no brainer. He isn't anything special, but is competent and knows the offense.

Maybe he said no thsnkuou

The guy I watched the least out of the 25 class. We’ll see. Obviously we’re not all in on Claiborne at the moment.

I wonder why they keep cycling through RBs... signing some one week, cutting those and signing another the next week. Trial and error I suppose. I think Neal might stick for '26, even when Mason returns. I think Claiborne's head is swimming right now and we can see why he was drafted in the 6th round.

StickierBuns wrote:

I wonder why they keep cycling through RBs... signing some one week, cutting those and signing another the next week. Trial and error I suppose. I think Neal might stick for '26, even when Mason returns. I think Claiborne's head is swimming right now and we can see why he was drafted in the 6th round.

I don't get why they don't send him to the practice squad. Its like he's actively hamstringing the team at the point and we're 3 games in.

medaille wrote:

I don't get why they don't send him to the practice squad. Its like he's actively hamstringing the team at the point and we're 3 games in.

Maybe they want him to get his (Claiborne) feet wet this year with some live plays so he can make the leap next year? Just guessing. I like AJ, but he looks like a brittle, stiff RB out there when he gets hit. After about 3 or 4 pops from the D he looks like he's sore and hurting. I know that Mason was supposed to be the workhorse, so plans got mislaid.

StickierBuns wrote:

I wonder why they keep cycling through RBs... signing some one week, cutting those and signing another the next week. Trial and error I suppose. I think Neal might stick for '26, even when Mason returns. I think Claiborne's head is swimming right now and we can see why he was drafted in the 6th round.

Agree, I wondered how he lasted until the 6th with that kind of speed, but now we can see why, he looks lost, he does not seem to have any kind of vision or instincts, all he had to do last week was follow where the play was supposed to go and he could have had a long TD, instead he inexplicably passed up the huge hole and took it outside.

I loved Neal coming out of Kansas, had one of the best games I saw by a RB that year against Colorado. If he can stay healthy, I definitely think he can contribute. Hope he can get up to speed quickly, because we need someone to be able to take some carries this week away from Jones.

JR44 wrote:

Agree, I wondered how he lasted until the 6th with that kind of speed, but now we can see why, he looks lost, he does not seem to have any kind of vision or instincts, all he had to do last week was follow where the play was supposed to go and he could have had a long TD, instead he inexplicably passed up the huge hole and took it outside.
I loved Neal coming out of Kansas, had one of the best games I saw by a RB that year against Colorado. If he can stay healthy, I definitely think he can contribute. Hope he can get up to speed quickly, because we need someone to be able to take some carries this week away from Jones.

I would be gobsmacked if he played this week...I think they'll take the window with the early bye to get him settled and a little steeped in the playbook.

purplefaithful wrote:

I would be gobsmacked if he played this week...I think they'll take the window with the early bye to get him settled and a little steeped in the playbook.

Jones can't take the beating he has taken. So if not Jones or Claiborne then who?

Viking1987isback wrote:

Maybe he said no thsnkuou

That is very likely. Seems odd tho, the team that gave him a chance. Perhaps he got miffed at being cut.