The Saints didn't practice on Christmas day, but Alvin Kamara and Derek Carr wouldn't have practiced if they had. Still, neither player has been ruled out, and both are still pushing to play despite the Saints officially being eliminated from playoff contention.
Kamara, who is dealing with a groin injury suffered during the Week 15 loss to the Commanders, met with Darren Rizzi on Tuesday to relay his commitment to getting back on the field this season. Kamara currently sits 50 yards shy of his first career 1,000-yard rushing season.
"Alvin told me this morning in my office that he really would like to play again and he’s trying," Rizzi said, "he’s doing everything in his power to get himself back.”
It's the same sentiment for Carr, who hasn't practiced since fracturing his left hand while diving toward the first down marker late in the Week 14 win over the Giants. Rizzi said he's made progress and is getting functionality back in that left hand, but it's going to come down to the wire as to whether he can get on the field against his former Raiders team. Carr is expected to get back onto the practice field this week to game out what all he can do and what playing would look like. If Carr can't go, rookie Spencer Rattler is expected to stay on the starting line.
"The way he’s attacked the rehab and the PT and all that has been impressive, and you know, with the want-to and the desire to get back and play ... if he’s able to do it then we’ll do it," Rizzi said. "We’re not just gonna throw him out there just to throw him out there, but if he’s able to function and we feel like we’re not gonna lose anything by him being out there, meaning from an offensive, schematic standpoint, then so be it.”
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Neither the Saints or Raiders practiced on Wednesday, so the following injury reports are estimated. Here's how the Saints' injury report broke down on Christmas Wednesday:
- DNP = did not participate; LP = limited participation; FP = full participation
- QB Derek Carr (left hand): DNP
- RB Alvin Kamara (groin): DNP
- C Erik McCoy (elbow): DNP
- LG Lucas Patrick (knee): DNP
- TE Juwan Johnson (foot): LP
- DT Nathan Shepherd (eye): LP
- DE Payton Turner (ankle): LP
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest): LP
- WR Chris Olave (head): FP
The Saints had a series of players go down with injuries during Monday night's shutout loss to the Packers. Center Erik McCoy suffered another setback in an injury-plagued season, though Rizzi said it's not expected to require surgery and wouldn't rule out the center for the season. The same can't be said for LG Lucas Patrick, who went down late in the game with a knee injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. He's expected to get additional imaging and a second opinion before a decision is made on whether to undergo surgery
The Saints will be back to practice on Thursday.
The Raiders' side of the injury report was short, here's how it broke down:
- LB Kana'l Mauga (calf): LP
- G Jordan Meredith (ankle): DNP
- G Jackson Powers-Jordan (quad/ankle): LP
The Saints (5-10) host the Raiders (3-12) for a noon kickoff in the Caesars Superdome in Week 17. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.