The New Orleans Saints got another key player back to practice this week, with Travis Etienne taking the field for the first time since going down with a hamstring injury in Week 3.
He's the third Saints starter to get back to practice from IR in the past two weeks, joining Jordyn Tyson and Kelvin Banks, both of whom played in the Week 9 win over the Browns. Etienne had 128 yards on 30 carries prior to the injury.
The other major injury to track throughout the week is that of Erik McCoy, who is expected to miss time with an elbow injury. Head coach Kellen Moore said the plan is to start Cesar Ruiz at center, with rookie Jeremiah Wright slotting in as the starting right guard. The decision will allow William Sherman to stick in his swing backup role as well as jumbo tight end, which the Saints used a lot more this past week.
Ruiz came up as a center at Michigan, but was immediately converted to guard at the NFL level. He has been used as a center in relief, but hasn't started at the position since 2021.
Here's how the Saints half of the injury report broke down for Week 10:
LP = limited participation; FP = full participation; DNP = did not participate
- OT Kelvin Banks (ankle): limited
- RB CJ Donaldson (shoulder): DNP
- LG David Edwards (knee): LP
- CB Martin Emerson Jr. (shin): LP
- RB Travis Etienne (hamstring): LP
- TE Noah Fant (back): LP
- RB Alvin Kamara (NIR-rest/back): DNP
- C Erik McCoy (biceps): DNP
- DT Christen Miller (knee): LP
- OT Asim Richards (thumb): FP
Kamara got another rest day, which was also the case last week, as he navigates a back injury. Both Banks and Tyson continued to be limited.
And here's how the Panthers side of the report broke down:
- RB Jonathon Brooks (groin): FP
- OG Brady Christensen (hamstring): FP
- RB Trevor Etienne (ankle): FP
- RB Chuba Hubbard (NIR-rest): DNP
- DT Lee Hunter (calf): FP
- CB Michael Jackson (groin): FP
- CB Will Lee (hamstring): FP
- WR Xavier Legette (knee): FP
- OG Damien Lewis (knee): FP
- LB Bobby Okereke (foot): DNP
- LB Jaelan Phillips (hamstring): FP
- OT Torricelli Simpkins (ankle): FP
The Saints (3-5
