Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-4, 315 lbs |
| Birthplace: Ajax, CA |
| Age: 33 |
| School: SIMON |
| Experience: 9 |
Next Game
Now Playing
Share Video
Link copied!
-
10:53NFL Executive Perspective: Week 7
-
1:21Dolphins Still Looking for 1st Lead of Season
-
1:40Start or Sit: Germie Bernard and Kyle Pitts
-
1:04Giants to Start J.J. McCarthy Sunday at Texans
-
1:55Vintage Aaron Rodgers on Display in Comeback Win
-
0:48Did JJ McCarthy Revive His Career With The Giants?
-
63:03Russell Wilson and Kyle Long react to NFL Week 6: Jalen Hurts news, Caleb Williams' return & more | Set, Hut!
-
5:37Who should start at QB for the Giants? | Set, Hut!
-
3:09NFL Week 7 Picks: Steelers vs. Saints (Paris)
-
1:45Top Waiver Wire Targets Entering Week 7
-
1:28Buy or Sell: Cam Skattebo Droppable After Next Week?
-
8:34Davante Adams Out 6-10 Weeks With Ruptured Hamstring
-
60:54Russell Wilson & Kyle Long react to Chiefs, Pats, Cowboys, Jags, Panthers | Set, Hut!
-
61:42Russell Wilson & Kyle Long react to Jaxson Dart's injury, chat Seahawks, Jalen Hurts | Set, Hut!
-
1:58Cam Skattebo Goes Missing in Giants Loss
-
1:56Evaluating the Raiders After Week 6 Loss to Bills
-
1:14Baker Mayfield Optimistic to Play in Week 7
-
1:55Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love Ruled Out vs. Rams
-
1:52Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr. Trending Toward Starting
-
1:31Raiders Coming Back to Earth After 3-0 Start
This page may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and sign up, make a deposit, place a wager, or make a trade, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
2026 Defensive
| STATS |
CMB
Total Tackles
|
SCK
Sacks
|
FUM
Forced Fumbles
|
INT
Interceptions
|
TD
Interceptions Returned For Touchdown
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 12 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Top Nathan Shepherd News
-
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Questionable for Week 7
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.
... See More ... See Less -
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Full participant Wednesday
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.
... See More ... See Less -
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Sidelined for Week 6
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.
... See More ... See Less -
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Won't play with illness
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.
... See More ... See Less -
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Under the weather, iffy for Week 5
Shepherd (illness) is now questionable for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
Shepherd is now in jeopardy of missing Sunday's game due to an illness. Davon Godchaux, Khristian Boyd, Tyree Wilson and Colby Wooden would all be in line for more defensive snaps if Shepherd is not cleared to play against Minnesota.
... See More ... See Less -
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Possibly primed for big role
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.
... See More ... See Less -
-
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Out for Sunday
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.
... See More ... See Less -
-
-
-
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Receives extension from Saints
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.
... See More ... See Less -
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Plays 16 games in 2024
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.
... See More ... See Less -
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Able to suit up Sunday
Shepherd (eye) is active for Sunday's Week 17 tilt against Las Vegas.
Shepherd was a last-minute inactive last Monday against Green Bay after suffering an eye injury. However, he logged an LP/LP/FP practice progression this week and will be able to take the field Sunday. Shepherd's return has resulted in John Ridgeway (coach's decision) being a healthy scratch for Week 17.
... See More ... See Less -
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Questionable to play vs. Raiders
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.
... See More ... See Less -
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Estimated as full participant
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.
... See More ... See Less -
-
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Suffers eye injury, out Monday
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.
... See More ... See Less -
-
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Good to go for Week 7
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.
... See More ... See Less
