On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints delivered multiple standout efforts in their victory over the Carolina Panthers, including a special teams play by the defensive line that was impressive enough to draw attention across the league.
NFL Announces Major Award for Saints Veteran
Late in the third quarter, with about six minutes remaining and the Panthers lining up for a field goal that would have tied the game, Saints DT Nathan Shepherd came up big with a crucial block. Without that play, the contest would have been even at 10-10, and the Saints’ win might not have been secured. The moment also sparked one of the most puzzling rulings in recent memory, which temporarily gave Carolina possession again.
The Panthers fumbled soon after, and from that point, the Saints controlled the rest of the game. Shepherd’s blocked kick earned him Week 10’s NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor.
Your NFC Special Teams Player of the Week: Nathan Shepherd 🙅♂️ pic.twitter.com/wTo766ehgF
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 12, 2025
This season, Shepherd has flown somewhat under the radar in New Orleans’ defensive tackle room, but at times, he has delivered major plays for the team. Per PFSN’s DT Impact metric, Shepherd ranks 18th in total tackles, 16th in QB hits, and 24th in solo tackles. He has shown the ability to make plays, but consistency against the run remains an issue.
An interesting point about Shepherd’s play this season is that there was a real chance the veteran may not have had the opportunity to do any of this. If the Saints had not traded away DT Khalen Saunders before the season, and rookie Vernon Broughton had not gone down with a season-ending injury, Shepherd might have been competing for snaps. Fortunately for him, that did not happen.
Shepherd has one year left on his contract and is nearing the end of his career. Still, making big plays at this stage is something the Saints can rely on from their defensive line during the rebuild, even with Broughton’s eventual return.