Injury Updates: Cesar Ruiz (ankle) and Devaughn Vele (shoulder) are both questionable to return. @Saints

— New Orleans Saints PR (@SaintsPR) December 14, 2025

Week 15 of the NFL season is set to kick off soon, and with that, the New Orleans Saints will be facing the Carolina Panthers for the second time this year. After beating them in the first matchup, they will look to deny them the lead of the NFC South once again, as they did with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week as well. With how poorly the season has gone for the Saints in 2025, they will just be looking to make things interesting and see what they have in their young talents.

Here is everything you need to know about the game as it happens live:

Watch Saints vs. Panthers on Fubo (free trial)

Saints field goal try turns into a turnover on downs

What an ugly sequence. Charlie Smyth kicked a 46-yard field goal, but a Panthers penalty gave the Saints a chance to keep their drive alive on 4th and 1. They didn’t get it. Left guard Dillon Radunz was fouled for holding and Tyler Shough was sacked at the line of scrimmage after trying to scramble for a first down. Shough was evaluated in the medical tent after appearing to injure his lower back on the play.

Saints say two more starters are questionable to return

The hits keep coming for the offense, which already lost running back Devin Neal (starting in place of Alvin Kamara). The Saints opened the fourth quarter by announcing that both wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) and right guard Cesar Ruiz (ankle) were questionable to return due to injuries. We’ll keep an eye out for each of them.

Saints stall out, settle for another field goal

Another promising drive for New Orleans ended with a couple of sacks and a 42-yard field goal; the Saints just struggled to keep momentum going their way once they crossed into Panthers territory. At least it’s a one-score game again, and they ate up nearly eight minutes of game clock across 14 plays. Panthers 17, Saints 10

Panthers extend their lead with a long touchdown pass

The Saints are starting a couple of rookies in the secondary, and it showed in this situation. Cornerback Quincy Riley let Panthers wideout Jalen Coker get a step on him and safety Jonas Sanker was too slow to react. Bryce Young threw a great pass to anticipate where Coker’s route would carry him. Panthers 17, Saints 7

Saints rule out running back Devin Neal (hamstring)

This is a tough break. Neal suffered a hamstring injury late in the second quarter and left the game immediately after scoring a touchdown run. While the Saints initially said he was questionable to return, they downgraded him to start the third quarter. With Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) already inactive, the Saints are left with just Evan Hull and Audric Estime at running back.

Saints rookie Quincy Riley holds the Panthers to a field goal

Way to get a stop, rookie. Riley made a great play on the ball to force an incomplete pass on what should have been a touchdown catch by Panthers first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan. Instead, Carolina had to settle for a 40-yard field goal just before halftime. Panthers 10, Saints 7

Saints RB Devin Neal (hamstring) questionable to return

That’s not good. Neal must have pulled a hamstring on his touchdown run — he left for the locker room with a member of the Saints training staff, and the team announced he is officially questionable to return against Carolina. Because Alvin Kamara is inactive with knee and ankle injuries, the only other available running backs are Evan Hull and Audric Estime.

Penalty-filled Saints drive ends with TD after 11 minutes, 95 yards

That’s how you take control. There were a ton of penalties (four on New Orleans, three on Carolina) but the Saints marched downfield with some big catches from Devaughn Vele and hard running by Devin Neal, who scored a 4-yard touchdown to get the Saints on the board. Tyler Shough threw some wild passes but his receivers did their part to come down with them. This 17-play drive took up more than 11 minutes and crossed 95 yards, dominating the second quarter. Saints 7, Panthers 7

Saints live up to their reputation as NFL’s worst fourth-down offense

FOX play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti observed that “The Saints are the worst fourth down team in the NFL” when they lined up to go for it on 4th and 4 from the Carolina 44-yard line, and he was right. Veteran center Luke Fortner (67 career starts) and starting right guard Cesar Ruiz (90 career starts) both jumped before the snap, drawing a foul for a false start. New Orleans had to punt from midfield on their second drive, still scoreless.

Panthers RB Rico Dowdle scores a TD on Carolina’s first drive

Ouch. The Saints run defense had no answers for Dowdle and the Panthers rushing offense. They were consistently blown off the line of scrimmage throughout Carolina’s first possession, giving up 48 yards on the ground from just nine carries (on what was a 13-play, 74-yard scoring drive). That isn’t going to get it done. What’s worse is the Saints went three-and-out to start the game, so Carolina gets the score and the opening kickoff in the second half. Panthers 7, Saints 0

Kellen Moore wastes his first challenge, Saints’ first timeout

Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker made a nice toe-tapping reception for a Carolina first down, but Saints coach Kellen Moore challenged whether he completed the catch. And a quick film review confirmed that he did. Moore is now 0-for-4 on challenges in his first year as an NFL head coach. That’s a bad omen.

Demario Davis leads the Saints pregame huddle

Davis has given the Saints a pillar of leadership in the locker room during the years since Drew Brees retired, but it remains to be seen who will step up and be that vocal presence once he calls it a career. For now, we’re just happy to have him.

Carolina PanthersWR Hunter RenfrowS Demani RichardsonLB Krys BarnesTE James MitchellDT Jared Harrison-HunteDT Tershawn WhartonNew Orleans Saints inactive playersRB Alvin Kamara (injury)RT Asim Richards (injury)S Justin Reid (injury)CB Rejzohn WrightTE Zaire Mitchell-PadenDT John Ridgeway IIIDT Khristian BoydWhat time does Saints vs. Panthers start?Date: Sunday, December 14Time: 3:25 p.m. CTWhere: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.What TV channel is Saints vs. Panthers on today?

Television: FOX

Streaming: Fubo (free trial) – Peacock (subscriber only)

Saints vs. Panthers predictions

Gennaro Filice, NFL.com: Saints

 Ali Bhanpuri, NFL.com: Panthers

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Saints

John Breech, CBS Sports: Panthers