The New Orleans Saints will be without starting linebacker Kaden Elliss (calf) when they face his former team in Week 4.
The Saints linebacker, who spent the past three seasons with the Falcons, is one of three players ruled out for the Monday Night Showdown against Atlanta, a game that doubles as the 20th anniversary of the Saints "Domecoming" tilt in 2006. Another starting LB in Pete Werner (shoulder) has been listed as questionable. Head coach Kellen Moore said his status will be determined by how testing goes over the next 48 hours and could stretch right up until game time. Regardless, he noted that he's confident in the potential fill-ins.
“Next guy up is the ultimate," Moore said. "Focus on that. … Our guys have had a full week of preparation for this and so our guys have gotten all the practice reps who will participate in this game and we should feel good about the reps that they’ve prepared theirself with.”
The Saints will be relying on second-year linebacker Danny Stutsman in a starting role. The former 4th round pick has seen significant action over his first two seasons in the NFL, but primarily as a fill-in for drives throughout games. Stutsman logged 7 tackles in relief during the Week 3 loss to the Raiders and got in for a big hit on Kirk Cousins early in the game, a play that was flagged for roughing the passer. If Werner also can't go, the team will have to turn to one of Isaiah Stalbird or Chris Rumph on the active roster, or they could opt to elevate Jackson Sirmon -- the son of LBs coach Peter Sirmon -- to the active roster for the game.
Here's how the full injury report broke down on Saturday:
LP = limited participation; FP = full participation; DNP = did not participate
- S Julian Blackmon (calf): LP | FP | FP
- WR Barion Brown (hamstring): LP | LP | FP
- LB Kaden Elliss (calf): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- CB Martin Emerson Jr. (shoulder): FP | FP | FP
- TE Noah Fant (abdomen): LP | LP | LP - questionable
- DT Davon Godchaux (NIR-rest): n/a | DNP | FP
- DE Carl Granderson (ankle): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- DE Anfernee Jennings (knee): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- DT Christen Miller (toe): LP | LP | FP
- CB Jayden Price (ankle): n/a | n/a | LP
- DT Nathan Shepherd (NIR-rest): n/a | n/a | DNP
- TE Treyton Welch (NIR-personal): n/a | n/a | DNP
- LB Pete Werner (shoulder): DNP | DNP | DNP - questionable
The other position to monitor for injury depth concerns is at edge rusher. The Saints will be without both of Anfernee Jennings (knee) and Carl Granderson (ankle) after injuries suffered during the loss to the Raiders. That will mean a heavy load to pick up for Chase Young and Cam Jordan, and the team will likely turn back to Tyree Wilson, a healthy scratch last week. They could also potentially elevate second-year DE Fadil Diggs or veteran Jonah Williams from the practice squad.
RB Travis Etienne's name is not listed on the injury report because he has officially been placed on injured reserve. That means a heavy workload for Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller and CJ Donaldson, with an option to potentially elevate or sign Zamir White from the practice squad.
There is positive news for a pair of rookies in DT Christen Miller (toe) and WR/KR Barion Brown (hamstring) both of whom were upgraded to full participants on Saturday after missing Week 3 with their respective injuries.
On the Falcons side there are no players ruled out, though three are listed as questionable:
- LB Yasir Abdullah (illness): n/a | n/a | DNP - questionable
- LB Kendal Daniels (achilles): n/a | LP | FP
- LB Divine Deablo (hamstring): LP | LP | LP - questionable
- DE Samson Ebukam (hamstring): LP | LP | FP - questionable
- OT Jake Matthews (NIR-rest): n/a | n/a | DNP
- DE Za'Darius Smith (NIR-rest): DNP | LP | FP
- OT Jawaan Taylor (NIR-rest): n/a | DNP | FP
The Saints (1-2) are set to host the Falcons (1-2) at 7:15 p.m. Monday inside the Caesars Superdome. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.
