Nathan Shepherd

Fantasy News

• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Sidelined for Week 7

  Rotowire Oct 25, 2026

  Shepherd (illness) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Steelers in Paris, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports. Shepherd had missed the Saints' previous two games while recovering from an illness, but he appeared to have moved past the ailment after he was a full participant in practices Wednesday and Thursday. Unfortunately for Shepherd, he appears to have experienced a setback in his recovery, as he was unable to practice in any capacity Friday and then took a questionable tag into Sunday. The Saints will hold him out for one more game, but with a bye on tap in Week 8, Shepherd could be ready to resume playing in the team's following game Nov. 8 versus the Browns.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Questionable for Week 7

  Rotowire Oct 23, 2026

  Shepherd (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers in Paris. Shepherd was a full participant in each of the first two practices of Week 7 prep before sitting out of Friday's session, which may have been a planned rest day for the veteran defensive tackle. He's missed the Saints' last two games due to an illness, and if he cannot play Sunday, then Khristian Boyd and Christen Miller would be the top rotational options on the interior defensive line.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Full participant Wednesday

  Rotowire Oct 21, 2026

  Shepherd (illness) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports. Shepherd has missed consecutive games due to an illness. The veteran defensive tackle has returned to practice after recovering from the issue and should be ready to return to the field for Sunday's game against the Steelers.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Sidelined for Week 6

  Rotowire Oct 18, 2026

  Shepherd (illness) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants. Shepherd will be sidelined for a second consecutive game due to an illness, which prevented him from participating in any practice during Week 6 prep. Rookie second-rounder Christen Miller should see a bump in defensive snaps due to the absence of Shepherd, whose next opportunity to play is Week 7 against the Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 25.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Won't play with illness

  Rotowire Oct 11, 2026

  Shepherd (illness) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Vikings. Shepherd will not suit up for Sunday's game due to an illness he contracted earlier in the week. The starting nose tackle for Sunday's contest will likely be Davon Godchaux.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Possibly primed for big role

  Rotowire Jul 31, 2026

  Shepherd could be a candidate for an increased snap count in 2026 if Bryan Bresee (knee) cannot play, Doug Joubert of Sports Illustrated reports. Bresee is feared to have torn his ACL during practice earlier in the week, which would leave a big hole on New Orleans' defensive front. The veteran Shepherd is an obvious contender to take a large chunk of the snaps left behind, although he'll have to compete with John Ridgeway, 2024 sixth-rounder Khristian Boyd and 2025 third-rounder Vernon Broughton, among others.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Out for Sunday

  Rotowire Jan 2, 2026

  Shepherd (ankle/knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Falcons, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports. The Fort Hays State product didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday and is now in line to miss the Saints' season finale due to ankle and knee injuries. Shepherd had one of the best years of his career in 2025, tallying 47 total tackles, including 3.0 sacks, and one forced fumble across 16 contests. While he's sidelined Sunday, expect John Ridgeway to operate as one of the Saints' top defensive ends.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Receives extension from Saints

  Rotowire Mar 10, 2025

  The Saints signed Shepherd to a one-year extension Monday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports. Shepherd has been an integral part of New Orleans' defensive line over his first two seasons with the team, recording 87 total tackles, including 4.5 sacks, across 33 regular-season games (30 starts). The Fort Hays State product was previously under contract through the 2025 season, so this extensions will keep him in New Orleans for the next two years. Expect Shepherd to serve as one of the Saint's top interior defensive linemen again in 2025.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Plays 16 games in 2024

  Rotowire Jan 8, 2025

  Shepherd made one solo tackle during Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Buccaneers. Shepherd appeared in 16 regular-season games for New Orleans in 2024, in which span he made 37 tackles (16 solo), including 1.5 sacks. The starting defensive tackle is entering the final year of his deal with the Saints, though New Orleans has a potential 'out' from his contract this offseason.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Questionable to play vs. Raiders

  Rotowire Dec 27, 2024

  Shepherd (eye) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Raiders after logging a full practice Friday, John Hendrix of SI.com reports. Shepherd suffered an eye injury during the Raiders' Week 16 loss to the Packers. He was listed as a limited practice participant on the Saints' first two injury reports of the week, but he finished strong Friday with a full session and appears to be on track to play Sunday even with the questionable tag. Shepherd has registered 32 tackles (13 solo), including 1.5 sacks, across 14 regular-season games.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Estimated as full participant

  Rotowire Dec 25, 2024

  Shepherd (eye) was listed as a full participant in New Orleans' practice estimate Wednesday. Shepherd is seemingly healthy after having suffered an eye injury during the team's Week 16 shutout loss to the Packers. He should return to his role as one of the team's starting defensive tackles for Sunday's matchup versus the Raiders.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Suffers eye injury, out Monday

  Rotowire Dec 23, 2024

  Shepherd (eye) is inactive for Monday's Week 16 game against Green Bay. It's not clear when or how Shepherd's eye injury occurred, but he was deemed questionable to play less than three hours before Monday's 8:15 PM ET kickoff and has subsequently been deemed inactive. The veteran defensive tackle had logged between 40 and 52 percent of New Orleans' defensive snaps over the past five weeks. Bryan Bresee could see an increase of work on defense with Shepherd out Monday.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Good to go for Week 7

  Rotowire Oct 16, 2024

  Shepherd (groin) was limited during Wednesday's walkthrough but does not carry an injury designation into Thursday's game against Denver. Shepherd has been listed as a limited participant all week after picking up a groin injury during Sunday's loss to the Bucs, but the 2018 third-round pick will suit up Thursday. Shepherd has logged 17 tackles (nine solo) through the first six games of the regular season.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Dealing with groin issue

  Rotowire Oct 14, 2024

  Shepherd (groin) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimation. The Fort Hays State product played 46 total snaps (39 defensive and seven on special teams) and recorded three total tackles in the Saints' Week 6 loss to the Buccaneers, but it appears he sustained a groin injury in the process. Shepherd's participation Tuesday and Wednesday will provide a better indication of whether he can play through injury in Thursday night's matchup against the Broncos.

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• Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Back in action

  Rotowire Aug 14, 2024

  Shepherd (toe) is healthy once again, Bob Rose of Sports Illustrated reports. Shepherd was dealing with a toe injury but returned to action during the Saints' preseason matchup versus the Cardinals last week and recorded two tackles, including 0.5 sacks. The 30-year-old will now look to continue producing after the regular season starts.

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• Jets' Nathan Shepherd: Re-signs with Jets

  Rotowire Mar 16, 2022

  Shepherd agreed Tuesday to re-sign with the Jets, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Shepherd appeared in all 17 games for New York in 2021 and registered 28 tackles (17 solo). He was a key depth piece along the Jets' defensive line, playing over 25 percent of the team's defensive snaps in every game. The 2018 third-round pick is once again expected to fill a rotational role in 2022.

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• Jets' Nathan Shepherd: Status uncertain for TNF

  Rotowire Dec 11, 2019

  Shepherd (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's matchup against the Ravens, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Shepherd popped up on the injury report as a limited participant all week, and he's one of four defensive linemen listed with injuries. If he's able to play, and either Henry Anderson (shoulder) or Quinnen Williams (neck) can't go, Shepherd likely will start at defensive end. The final verdict on their statuses will be revealed 90 minutes before the 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.

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• Jets' Nathan Shepherd: Suspension confirmed

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2019

  Shepherd has been suspended for the next six games for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. Shepherd's suspension will begin immediately. The 25-year-old will be eligible to return to the active roster Oct. 28 and he'll be able to play Week 9.

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• Jets' Nathan Shepherd: Facing six-game suspension

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2019

  Shepherd is facing a six-game suspension for two separate violations of the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Shepherd admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs to help recover from injuries over the offseason. While recovering from a shoulder injury, the 25-year-old underwent an MRI on his groin that revealed the need for a sports hernia procedure. After the procedure, Shepherd had a hunched posture for several weeks that eventually led to a herniated disc in his back. Pelissero reported that the league could've suspended Shepherd 14 games -- four for the first violation occurring June 27 and 10 games for the second offense July 25 -- but decided to roll the two charges into a singular six-game suspension.

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