The New Orleans Saints won’t be getting right tackle Ryan Ramczyk back this season, with the veteran headed to injured reserve with a lingering knee issue.
The move doesn’t come as a major surprise, considering the tone struck by Ramczyk in the locker room this week in discussing the issue that has affected the 2017 first round pick for the last several seasons. Ramczyk and head coach Dennis Allen left the possibility open for a return if things went a certain way, but the next steps for Ramczyk will be working with doctors to ascertain the next steps.
Ramczyk had missed the last two games, a win over the Giants and loss to the Rams, with the same issue. Ramczyk indicated this week that he’d probably require offseason surgery.
the 29-year-old joins a star-laden IR list for the Saints that already includes CB Marshon Lattimore (ankle) and WR Michael Thomas (knee), both or whom are eligible to return when healthy but have not had their return windows opened. Saints defensive end Payton Turner has also been on IR since Week 1 and has returned to practice, but is unlikely to play in Week 17.
The Saints have signed veteran OT Cam Erving into the open roster spot. He’s been with the team for several months as a member of the practice squad and made a start at right tackle earlier in the year when Ramczyk missed a game due to a concussion. Erving will serve as a backup behind Landon Young at right tackle, who has started the past two games.
The offensive line’s ability to hold up will be a major theme in a Week 17 showdown with the Bucs, the result of which could officialy end the Saints’ playoff hopes. A Saints loss would hand the Bucs their third consecutive NFC South title and send the Saints to Week 18 with no playoff hopes for the second consecutive season. A Saints win would keep alive their longshot hopes that would require help from the Panthers in Week 18 or several losses from other wild card hopefuls.
The Saints have also elevated defensive back Shemar Jean-Charles from the practice squad.
