The New Orleans Saints are turning to a familiar kind of opportunity this week, elevating running back CJ Donaldson from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Week 2.
The move, first reported by Saints insider Nick Underhill on Friday, gives the undrafted rookie a chance to contribute after spending the opening weeks of the season developing on the sideline.
Donaldson, whose given name is DeCarlo, arrived in New Orleans after going unselected in the 2026 draft. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound back out of Coral Gables, Florida, signed with the Saints as a free agent and earned a practice-squad spot coming out of training camp.
At 21, he is still early in his professional transition, but his college résumé suggests a player who has already learned how to produce when given a defined role.
He spent three seasons at West Virginia before transferring to Ohio State for his senior year. Recruited originally as a tight end, he was moved to running back almost immediately and became a starter as a freshman.
Over 45 games, he rushed 517 times for 2,419 yards and 40 touchdowns while adding 47 receptions for 286 yards and two scores. Those 42 total touchdowns speak to a consistent knack for finding the end zone, particularly in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
At Ohio State, he led the Buckeyes with 10 rushing scores even as his carry volume dropped in a crowded backfield, reinforcing the reputation of a powerful, north-south runner who finishes runs.
That profile fits a Saints offense that has long valued complementary pieces behind its primary backs. New Orleans did not invest a draft pick at the position this spring after adding veteran help in free agency, yet Donaldson’s combination of size, production near the goal line, and special-teams background made him an attractive undrafted addition.
Promotion now does not guarantee a heavy workload, but it does put him one snap away from contributing if injuries or game script create an opening.
The timing also coincides with another roster adjustment, as the Saints placed long snapper Zach Wood on injured reserve.
While the two moves are not directly linked, they illustrate the week-to-week flexibility required in September, when practice-squad elevations often serve as the first real test of a young player’s readiness.
For Donaldson the next step is simple and familiar: prove he can translate the physical running and scoring touch that defined his college career into the NFL. Saints fans have seen undrafted backs carve out roles before.
Whether Donaldson becomes the latest depends on how quickly he can earn the trust of the coaching staff once he is on the active 53.
The promotion is less a splashy transaction than a practical one—an early look at a young runner who has already shown he knows how to finish.
