Brock Rechsteiner’s chances of making the New Orleans Saints’ 53-man roster have taken a major hit, and the rookie wide receiver now appears to be facing an uphill battle to remain with the team.
Rechsteiner joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent in May after impressing during the team’s rookie minicamp. New Orleans liked what it saw from the former Jacksonville State receiver enough to turn his tryout into a contract.
However, his situation changed dramatically last week when the NFL announced that Rechsteiner had been suspended for the first six games of the 2026 regular season for violating the NFL-NFLPA performance-enhancing substances policy. The Saints confirmed the suspension, while also noting that he remains eligible to participate in training camp and all preseason games.
That distinction is extremely important.
Rechsteiner still has an opportunity to prove himself before roster cuts. The Saints can evaluate him during preseason games and practices before deciding whether he deserves one of the team’s 53 roster spots.
The problem is that he was already facing difficult odds.
As an undrafted rookie, Rechsteiner entered training camp needing to outperform established competition. The Saints have several receivers competing for limited roster positions, and his six-game suspension means that even if he makes the team, New Orleans would have to carry a player who cannot contribute during the opening portion of the regular season.
That makes cutting him a realistic possibility.
The situation is especially unfortunate because Rechsteiner had earned his opportunity the hard way. He was not selected in the 2026 NFL Draft and initially had to fight for a chance through rookie minicamp. His performance was good enough for the Saints to give him a contract, putting him in position to compete for a professional football career.
Now, the suspension has essentially made every preseason snap more important.
Rechsteiner needs to demonstrate that he can contribute immediately, whether as a receiver, special-teams player or developmental option. If he fails to separate himself from the other young receivers, the Saints could decide that keeping a suspended rookie on the 53-man roster is not worth the roster spot.
There is, however, another possibility.
If New Orleans waives Rechsteiner and he clears waivers, the Saints could potentially bring him back as a practice-squad player. Reports have already identified the practice squad as a possible path for him following the suspension.
That could allow New Orleans to retain his rights and continue developing him without committing a valuable active-roster position to a player unavailable for the first six games.
For Rechsteiner, the upcoming preseason is therefore critical. His NFL dream is not necessarily over, but his margin for error has become extremely small.
The Saints originally saw enough potential to sign him. Now he has to convince them that potential is worth preserving despite the suspension.
At this point, a spot on the final 53-man roster looks like a long shot, while the practice squad may represent Rechsteiner’s best path to staying in New Orleans.
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