The 2022 season has had a lot of low points with injuries. Even by those standards, Week 11 comes with a blow all its own: DE Cam Jordan will not play.
On its face that sounds significant just in the sense that one of the league's most consistent DEs will not be on the field. But in reality its the end of an era, marking the first time in his 12-year NFL career that Jordan will miss a game due to an injury.
Dennis Allen announced the news after Friday's practice, though he declined to go into specifics of what Jordan is actually dealing with beyond what's been classified as an eye injury. Jordan was struck in the eye early on against the Pittsburgh Steelers and finished the game, but he has been absent for each day of practice throughout the week.
“We’re going to do what we need to do from a medical standpoint," Allen said. "He won’t play this week, and hopefully we’ll get him back sooner rather than later.”
Jordan's ironman streak has been well documented, dating back to his rookie season in 2011. It actually came to an end in 2021 at 172 consecutive games played, with Jordan forced to sit out of a Week 14 matchup with the New York Jets due to a positive test for coronavirus. It was a frustrating week, particularly considering the rules for returning after a positive test were loosened not long after. Jordan came back with a vengeance the rest of the season and finished with 8.5 sacks over his final four games. Jordan has logged 5.5 sacks and 42 tackles through the first 10 games of 2010.
But even with his name falling from the official ironman lists, there was always going to be a caveat: Never missed a game with an injury. That's what comes to an end this week, and it's certainly not a frustration that is lost on the player himself. Jordan sent out a somewhat cryptic tweet earlier in the week that seemed to hint at his impending absence.
"Man, unreal," he posted. "smh, just control what you can control."
He also posted a gif of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine (whose superpower is healing), with the caption "peaceful thoughts."
It's unclear how long Jordan will be out with whatever eye issue continues to ail him, but his coach is hopeful to get the veteran DE back soon. And as you might have guessed, the Week 11 absence did not come without pushback.
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“He absolutely wanted to play," Allen said. "I think that’s what’s great about Cam. It’s not the first injury he’s ever had. I think it’s the first time he’s ever missed a game due to an injury. And so that says a lot about the person. That says a lot about his desire to play, and that’s the mentality that you like to have in your football players."
Jordan's absence will be one of many expected for the Saints among key players. WR Michael Thomas and center Erik McCoy are on injured reserve, CB Marshon Lattimore is out with an abdominal issues, LB Pete Werner is out with with an ankle issue, Marcus Davenport will be out with a calf issue and the team will be without at least one more offensive lineman with James Hurst sideline due to a concussion. Players will continue to have to step up, a list that includes rookie Payton Turner, who has returned to health in recent weeks and could see a major role when the L.A. Rams arrive at the Caesars Superdome this weekend.
“That’s one of things that, when you have an injury and you have a next-man-up mentality, it’s an opportunity for other guys to step up," Allen said, "and Payton will be one of the guys that has to step up in this game.”
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