Saints Placed Long Snapper Zach Wood on Injured Reserve

The veteran captain will miss time after sustaining a Grade II calf strain this week.

Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Football

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a football player in black and gold gear performing a long snap. — The New Orleans Saints placed veteran long snapper Zach Wood on injured reserve Thursday following a Grade II calf strain. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The New Orleans Saints have placed long snapper Zach Wood on injured reserve following a Grade II calf strain. Wood, a team captain, is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.

Why it matters

Wood's absence disrupts a key special teams position for New Orleans, ending a streak of 150 consecutive regular-season games played for the veteran.

Wood has played 150 consecutive regular-season games, while replacement option Scott Daly brings experience from 76 regular-season games with the Lions and Bears.

The players

Zach Wood

He is a 33-year-old long snapper who has served as a team captain for the Saints for four consecutive seasons.

Scott Daly

He is a professional long snapper who has previously appeared in 76 regular-season games across stints with the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears.

Kellen Moore

He is the current member of the Saints coaching staff who confirmed the decision to move the veteran long snapper to the injured reserve list.

The details

After reporting calf discomfort and undergoing medical testing, it was determined that Wood required time to recover from the strain. The team held workouts for three potential long snappers on Thursday to address the vacancy in the unit.

September 2017 marked when Zach Wood originally joined the New Orleans Saints.
September 17, 2026, was when Wood participated in practice before reporting discomfort.
September 18, 2026, served as the date the move to injured reserve was confirmed.
September 20, 2026, is the date of the upcoming game against the Baltimore Ravens.

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Season Trajectory

This roster move follows the established NFL roster management protocols for short-term injury recovery. The Saints must now adjust their special teams depth chart to maintain continuity during a critical stretch of the season.

Wood will miss at least four weeks of action, removing a reliable veteran presence from the Saints' special teams unit. The team has added Scott Daly to the practice squad as they look to fill the void for the upcoming game.

The takeaway

Replacing a long-term specialist like Wood requires quick adaptation from the coaching staff to ensure field goal and punt accuracy remain consistent. Maintaining a deep practice squad allows the team to weather mid-season injuries to key specialized roles.