The New Orleans Saints have officially ruled out four players for Sunday's matchup with the Carolina Panthers, setting up some serious questions in the secondary.
Two starting cornerbacks in Marshon Lattimore and rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry will miss the game with hamstring injuries. McKinstry's injury occurred during Wednesday's practice, continuing a frustrating trend of mid-week injuries that the Saints are planning to address with longer pre-practice stretch and activation periods and monitoring hydration levels, Dennis Allen said Friday.
That means the Saints are without three of the top corners to start the year, with Paulson Adebo already done for the year as he recovers from a broken femur suffered during the Week 7 loss to the Broncos. Lattimore has been forced to exit each of the past two games early with the same hamstring issue.
Another rookie cornerback in Rico Payton (back) is questionable, though Allen said it's possible that he plays despite missing all three days of practice. The only two healthy cornerbacks on the active roster are Alontae Taylor and Ugo Amadi, though the Saints could opt to elevate or sign DBs Tre Herndon and/or Shemar Jean-Charles from the practice squad. The Saints have also ruled out WR Bub Means (high ankle sprain) and RB Kendre Miller (hamstring)
Here's how the full injury report breaks down heading into Week 9.
DNP = did not participate; LP = limited participation; FP = full participation
- CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- S Tyrann Mathieu (illness): DNP | FP | FP
- WR Bub Means (ankle): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- RB Kendre Miller (hamstring): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- CB Rico Payton (back): DNP | DNP | DNP - questionable
- WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip): DNP | LP | LP - questionable
- QB Derek Carr (oblique): LP | LP | LP
- TE Juwan Johnson (shoulder): LP | FP | FP
- RB Alvin Kamara (hand/rib): LP | LP | LP
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring): LP | DNP | DNP - out
- LG Nick Saldiveri (shoulder): LP | LP | LP - questionable
- RB Jamaal Williams (groin): LP | LP | LP - doubtful
- G/C Shane Lemieux (knee): FP | FP | FP - questionable
- LB Nephi Sewell (knee): FP | FP | FP - questionable
- DT John Ridgeway (oblique): n/a | DNP | LP - questionable
Along with Miller, the Saints could be tested significantly at running back if Jamaal Williams (groin) can't go. The Saints could opt to elevate or sign Jordan Mims from the practice squad for added depth.
Each of LB Nephi Sewell (knee) and G/C Shane Lemieux (knee) practiced in full all week, though the depth at each of those positions is healthy and it would be unlikely to see either player activated from IR after opening their return to practice windows this week. Teams have up to 21 days to activate a player after opening their return to practice window.
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Carolina has significant questions on their side as well, with three players ruled out, five players questionable and two doubtful.
Here's how the Panthers' injury report broke down this week:
- OLB Jadeveon Clowney (NIR-rest): DNP | FP | n/a
- OT Ikem Okwonu (ankle): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- TE Feleipe Franks (concussion): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- LB Josey Jewell (NIR-rest): DNP | FP | n/a
- OLB DJ Johnson (ankle): DNP | LP | LP - questionable
- DE A'Shawn Robinson (NIR-rest): DNP | FP | n/a
- S Jammie Robinson (knee): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- TE Tommy Tremble (back): DNP | LP | FP - questionable
- WR Adam Thielen (hamstring): LP | LP | DNP - doubtful
- RB Jonathan Brooks (knee): FP | FP | FP - questionable
- DT Jaden Crumedy (ankle): FP | FP | FP - doubtful
- QB Andy Dalton (right thumb): FP | FP | FP
- S Jordan Fuller (hamstring): FP | FP | FP - doubtful
- OT Yosh Nijman (knee): FP | FP | FP
- OLB DJ Wonnum (quad): FP | FP | FP questionable
- OT Taylor Moton (NIR-rest): n/a | DNP | FP
- WR Xavier Legette (toe): n/a | LP | FP - questionable
The Saints (2-6) travel to face the Panthers (1-7) in Week 9. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.