Former LSU National Champion running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire has not survived final roster cuts by the New Orleans Saints. The team terminated his contract on Tuesday.
The NFL season is just a few weeks away from starting up, and as training camps progress, teams had until today at 4:00 p.m. ET to make their final roster cuts. Edwards-Helaire had been with the Saints organization since December of last season when he joined the practice squad. He eventually played in two regular season games for New Orleans, rushing for 46 yards on 13 carries while also hauling in three catches for 24 yards.
New Orleans also cut RB Cam Akers, signaling that Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller will take on the majority of the running back responsibilities for the Saints in Kellen Moore's first season as head coach.
Tiger fans will never forget Edwards-Helaire's 2019 heroics
A native of Baton Rouge, Edwards-Helaire was a four-star recruit out of Catholic High School. He spent three seasons at LSU, and played a big role in LSU's National Championship-winning 2019 team. In 15 games that season, he ran 215 times for 1,414 yards and led the SEC with 16 rushing touchdowns. He was also a strong compliment in the passing game, totaling 55 receptions for 453 yards and a touchdown. In LSU's 42-25 victory over Clemson in the title game, Edwards-Helaire rushed 16 times for 110 yards and totaled 54 receiving yards on five catches.
Following that 2019 season, the Baton Rouge native was drafted No. 32 overall with the final pick of the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2020 NFL Draft. Edwards-Helaire spent four seasons in Kansas City and won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs (LVII and LVIII). However, he saw his role get minimized each year. His best season came during his rookie year in 2020 when he collected 803 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 181 carries. He also totaled 297 receiving yards on 36 catches. All of those figures remain career-highs for the LSU product.
LSU fans were hopeful that Edwards-Helaire could regain some of his production from his rookie season with the Saints, but unfortunately, it hasn't worked out. It wouldn't be surprising to see Edwards-Helaire land on another practice squad somewhere for the start of the 2025 NFL season.