The New Orleans Saints have some serious injury questions to answer heading into their Week 4 showdown with the Atlanta Falcons, and they'll be without their lead running back for at least the next month.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore announced Thursday, after the team's first practice of the week, that RB Travis Etienne would head to IR with a hamstring injury. Etienne was listed on the injury report with a hamstring issue ahead of Week 3 and came up grabbing his left leg on a run in the third quarter. Moore declined to give a specific timeline on any potential return, but did add that Kendre Miller and Alvin Kamara will be expected to shoulder the workload for the time being.
“Obviously fortunate for us, I think we have some guys who have played some football. I think Alvin and Kendre will handle that load really well," Moore said. "CJ [Donaldson] has obviously found his specific role. We have some depth on practice squad as we navigate the next few weeks. I think we’re in a good place.”
The Saints also have RB Zamir White on the practice squad and have signed Ulysses Bentley to bolster that group. The team also announced that they've signed WR Kevin Austin Jr. to the active roster and DE David Ojabo to the practice squad. Austin had been elevated from the practice squad in each of the first three weeks.
Etienne was enjoying his best game with the Saints at the time of the injury (13 carries for 54 yards). The Saints gave Etienne the Louisiana native a 4-year, $48 million contract this offseason to bolster the run game. Etienne now joins a robust list of players on injured reserve, including rookie WR Jordyn Tyson and LT Kelvin Banks Jr. The first game Etienne would be eligible to return would be Week 9 against the Browns.
The Saints will also be navigating injuries to both inside linebackers, with neither of Pete Werner (shoulder) or Kaden Elliss (calf) participating. Elliss could be seen riding an exercise bike during the portion of practice open to the media.
Here's the full injury report for the Saints on Thursday:
LP = limited participation; FP = full participation; DNP = did not participate
- S Julian Blackmon (calf): LP
- WR Barion Brown (hamstring): LP
- LB Kaden Elliss (calf): DNP
- CB Martin Emerson Jr. (shoulder): FP
- TE Noah Fant (abdomen): LP
- DE Carl Granderson (ankle): DNP
- DE Anfernee Jennings (knee): DNP
- DT Christen Miller (toe): LP
- LB Pete Werner (shoulder): DNP
Edge rushers Carl Granderson (ankle) and Anfernee Jennings (knee) also did not participate.
On the positive side of the equation, WR and return specialist Barion Brown (hamstring) as well as rookie DT Christen Miller (toe) both returned to action.
The Falcons' side of the injury report is much shorter:
- LB Divine Deablo (hamstring): LP
- DE Samson Ebukam (hamstring): LP
- DE Za'Darius Smith (NIR-rest): DNP
The Saints (1-2) will host the Falcons (1-2) on Monday Night Football at the Caesars Superdome. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.
