Moliki Matavao - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Saints place running back Ty Chandler and tight end Moliki Matavao on injured reserve

New Orleans Saints running back Ty Chandler and tight end Moliki Matavao have been placed on season-ending injured reserve

AUGUST 26 • Associated Press

Moved to IR The Saints placed Matavao (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Impact Matavao sustained a knee injury during Saturday's 34-0 preseason loss to the Rams. The tight end's placement on IR means he will miss the entirety of the 2026 regular season unless he is waived with an injury settlement. Matavao logged three catches for 34 yards in Saturday's game and had a good chance to make the 53-man roster.

AUGUST 25 • ROTOWIRE

Sustains knee injury Matavao was diagnosed with a knee injury following the Saints' 34-0 preseason loss to the Rams on Saturday, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Impact It's unclear when Matavao tweaked his knee, but he'll undergo more tests over the coming days to determine the severity of the injury and whether he'll be available for the Saints' preseason finale against the Cowboys on Friday. The 2025 seventh-rounder finished Saturday's game with three catches on as many targets for 34 yards.

AUGUST 23 • ROTOWIRE

Moliki Matavao's 14-yard sideline grab moves chains for Saints | Saints-Rams Highlights | 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2 New Orleans Saints wide receiver Moliki Matavao's 14-yard sideline grab moves the chains for the New Orleans Saints against the Los Angeles...

AUGUST 22 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM

Moliki Matavao on Juwan Johnson, TE room depth | Saints Training Camp 2026 New Orleans Saints tight end Moliki Matavao's post-practice interview on August 8, 2026 at Saints Training Camp 2026 presented by Rouses Mar...

AUGUST 8 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM

Photos: Saints players ride in Krewe of Pygmalion during Mardi Gras 2026 New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough served as grand marshal for the Krewe of Pygmalion with center Erik McCoy, guard Nick Saldiveri,...

FEBRUARY 8 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM

Logs two catches in 2025 Matavao finished the 2025 season with two receptions (on two targets) for 10 yards in six appearances for the Saints.

Impact Matavao opened his 2025 rookie season in a special-teams role before he was let go and joined the Saints' practice squad. The seventh-rounder spent time on and off the active roster toward the end of the season, as New Orleans dealt with a rash of injuries, including season-ending injuries for tight ends Foster Moreau (ankle) and Jack Stoll (knee). Matavao will look to carve out a larger role in 2026.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Notches first two NFL receptions Matavao played 27 of the Saints' 54 snaps on offense and recorded two catches for 10 yards in Sunday's 34-26 win over the Titans.

Impact After being signed off the practice squad prior to the Week 17 contest, Matavao ended up ranking second among Saints tight ends in playing time, with Jack Stoll's (knee) early exit opening up more snaps behind top option Juwan Johnson. Matavao took advantage of the added snaps by producing his first two NFL receptions, but the rookie seventh-round pick will remain far off the fantasy radar Week 18 at Atlanta so long as Johnson is available for the Saints.

DECEMBER 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Signed to Saints' active roster The Saints signed Matavao from the practice squad to the active roster Friday.

Impact The move corresponds with the Saints placing fellow tight end Foster Moreau (ankle) on injured reserve. Matavao was selected by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but the UCLA product has bounced back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster. He figures to be the Saints' TE4 behind Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill and Jack Stoll over the final two games of the regular season.

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back to practice squad Matavao reverted to the Saints' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Impact Matavao logged 21 offensive snaps in Sunday's win over the Jets but played behind all four of Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill, Foster Moreau (ankle) and Jack Stoll. Matavao didn't draw a single target against New York.

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Elevated for Week 16 The Saints have elevated Matavao from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday's game against the Jets.

Impact Matavao, a rookie seventh-round pick, will get a chance to contribute in a depth capacity at tight end during Sunday's home game against New York. After Sunday's matchup, Matavao will revert to the practice squad for New Orleans.

DECEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Signs with practice squad The Saints signed Matavao to the practice squad Tuesday.

Impact Matavao was a seventh-round pick by the Saints back in April's NFL Draft and has bounced between the practice squad and active roster for much of the first five weeks of the season.

OCTOBER 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Cut by New Orleans The Saints waived Matavao on Saturday.

Impact New Orleans selected Matavao in the seventh round of the 2025 Draft, and he's appeared in three games this season. However, he's seen just 12 snaps on special teams.

OCTOBER 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Saints activate Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau ahead of Sunday's game against the Giants

The New Orleans Saints have moved versatile quarterback Taysom Hill and tight end Foster Moreau from the club’s physically unable to perform list to the active roster in advance of...

OCTOBER 4, 2025 • Associated Press

Returning to New Orleans The Saints signed Matavao to the active roster Tuesday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Impact The rookie seventh-rounder saw sparse playing time through the first two games of the regular season before being waived by the Saints on Saturday. Now that he's back in New Orleans, Matavao will serve as the TE3 behind Juwan Johnson and Jack Stoll.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Let go by Saints Matavao was waived by the Saints on Saturday.

Impact Matavao was selected by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he was originally able to crack the team's roster. He played a few snaps on special teams in Weeks 1 and 2, but he'll now be seeking a new opportunity around the league.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

UCLA Bruins Insider Podcast: Matavao Speaks From Saints Minicamp Our latest episode of the UCLA Bruins Insider Podcast discusses what former UCLA Bruin and current New Orleans Saints tight end Moliki Matav...

MAY 13, 2025 • THESTATE.COM

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Saints place running back Ty Chandler and tight end Moliki Matavao on injured reserve

Saints activate Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau ahead of Sunday's game against the Giants