The New Orleans Saints have a handful of injuries to add to the pile heading into Week 18, and one has struck one of their most important playmakers in Alvin Kamara.
The Saints' star running back had his right ankle rolled up on by Bucs cornerback Dee Delaney as he was tackled late in the second quarter. Kamara hobbled off the field and got treatment in the locker room for an ankle sprain. He came out to test it prior to the second half, but ultimately went back to the locker room and did not return to the game.
"[We] just didn’t feel like he was gonna be able to be functional, you know, enough to help us win,” head coach Dennis Allen said after the game, with few details as to the severity of the injury.
Kamara's day ended with 10 carries for 45 yards and 2 catches for 4 yards.
For obvious reasons an ankle sprain for a running back is a difficult injury to manage. Rookie Kendre Miller has not played since Week 9 after suffering a significant ankle sprain, though he appeared close to going this week but was ultimately deemed inactive. His status for Week 18 will be important to watch if Kamara is limited or inactive.
The rushing attack in today's game was dominated by Jamaal Williams as the only other active tailback, and he responded with 58 yards on 19 carries, and another 13 receiving yards on 4 catches. Taysom Hill contributed 2 carries for 1 yard, and fullback Adam Prentice chipped in with a 7-yard run in the 4th quarter to extend a drive that helped the Saints ice the clock.
There were two other injuries of note, both knee injuries. Linebacker Nephi Sewell left the game in the second quarter with a "significant" knee injury that will likely end his season. RT Landon Young also left the game with an injury to the same knee that he hurt during training camp. Backup Cam Erving entered the game and had issues of his own, but the head coach qualified those as cramps.
With the win the Saints retain a shot at the NFC South title or potentially a wild card if results fall a certain way. New Orleans will host the Atlanta Falcons, who at 7-9 are just one game behind the Saints and Bucs in the division standings.