The New Orleans Saints have released veteran cornerback David Long Jr. from injured reserve, ending a brief and injury-shortened stint for the former Michigan Wolverines standout.
Long, a Los Angeles native who starred at Loyola High School, joined Michigan as a highly regarded four-star recruit in 2016. He developed into a reliable starter in the secondary, appearing in 30 games with 26 starts over three seasons.
As a sophomore in 2017, he earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition; as a junior in 2018 he was named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches (third-team by media) and second-team All-Big Ten by the Associated Press.
He also became the first recipient of Michigan’s Defensive Skill Player of the Year Award. Across his career in Ann Arbor he recorded roughly 38 tackles, three interceptions (including an 80-yard return at Maryland), and 14–15 pass breakups while helping the Wolverines compete in the Big Ten.
The Los Angeles Rams selected him in the third round (79th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Long spent his first four seasons with the Rams, contributing to their Super Bowl LVI championship team after the 2021 season—he started that Super Bowl and earlier returned an interception for a touchdown in the postseason.
After leaving Los Angeles he became a journeyman, with stops involving the Raiders, Panthers, Packers, Colts, and Giants.
Over his NFL career, he has appeared in approximately 80 games with a dozen starts, totaling 96 tackles, one interception, and eight pass deflections.
Long signed with the Saints in late August 2026 amid secondary depth needs and appeared in the preseason finale. He was placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter with an undisclosed issue and began the regular season on IR.
On October 29 the Saints released him from injured reserve as part of a bye-week roster move, granting an injury settlement.
The transaction frees training-staff resources while allowing Long, still only 28, the chance to sign elsewhere immediately or re-sign with New Orleans after three weeks (most likely on the practice squad).
Similar recent Saints injury-settlement releases have quickly landed with other clubs.
For Michigan fans, Long’s path illustrates both the program’s continued production of NFL talent and the unpredictable realities of professional longevity.
From first-team All-Big Ten honors in the Big House to a Super Bowl ring and now another free-agency opportunity, the former Wolverine remains available as teams seek secondary depth down the stretch of the 2026 season.
