The New Orleans Saints have released cornerback David Long Jr. from injured reserve, according to the NFL’s official transaction wire.
The move frees resources for the medical staff while opening the door for the 28-year-old to continue his career elsewhere this season.
Long entered the league as a third-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 out of Michigan, where he had earned All-Big Ten recognition.
He completed his four-year rookie contract, valued at roughly $3.8 million including a signing bonus near $973,000, and was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI championship roster.
In that title game against the Cincinnati Bengals he recorded four tackles, and over his early years in Los Angeles he contributed steadily, highlighted by a 2021 season with 40 combined tackles, four pass breakups, and his lone career interception.
After leaving the Rams he signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.
Waived midseason, he was claimed by the Carolina Panthers, who soon released him; the Green Bay Packers then claimed him and he finished the year there. In 2024 he signed with the New York Giants but was among their final training-camp cuts.
He spent time on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad before being elevated to the active roster in October.
The Colts re-signed him the following spring, yet an injury in camp led to an injury settlement and his release from IR. He later rejoined the Colts practice squad briefly before finishing that season on the Panthers’ practice squad. In 2025 he appeared in one regular-season game for Carolina.
This summer Long signed with the Giants once more during camp but was released after about a week following another injury settlement.
He then landed with the Saints near the end of preseason, appeared in their final exhibition game (recording four tackles), and was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed issue before the regular season.
Across his career, he has played in roughly 80 games with 12 starts, totaling around 96 tackles and eight passes defensed.
His release means he can now sign with any team. He may also wait at least three weeks and potentially rejoin New Orleans, most likely on the practice squad.
Injury settlements have become a routine roster-management tool for the Saints this year, and several other players released in similar fashion have already landed elsewhere.
For a proven veteran corner who has bounced between seven franchises since his Super Bowl season, the transaction keeps open the possibility of additional playing time in 2026.
