The Saints are forced to start this WR at RB in Week 17

With Alvin Kamara and all other Saints running backs on the COVID-19 list for Sunday’s matchup, here’s what the team was forced to do as a replacement.

The New Orleans Saints coaches and players are getting ready to play their last regular-season game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Unfortunately, it is taking a little extra skill, talent, and versatility to plan for this game.

Earlier this week, the news broke that Alvin Kamara tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first real hit that the team has taken all year in terms of the virus which is good, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time with the team gearing up for playoffs.

With Kamara now testing positive, speculation started rising on if he was going to be available for the Wild Card Weekend of the playoffs which is just one week away. Now, the team has many more concerns to worry about today.

It was also reported along with Alvin Kamara that Latavius Murray, Michael Burton, and Dwayne Washington along with the running back’s coach all were considered close contacts to Kamara and have been officially ruled out of the team’s Week 17 matchup.

With that being the case, Sean Payton had to make a decision as to what to do without any running backs and the decision had to be made quickly. Just like that, Payton made his decision to move a versatile wide receiver to running back for the season finale.

Recently called-up Saint, Ty Montgomery, who played some running back on his former team the New York Jets will be transitioned as the only team’s running back on the active roster. It was also reported that the team will call up a practice squad running back to serve as his backup.

This has been one of the fastest developing stories of the Saints all year long. Let’s hope that Montgomery balls out in his debut as a starting running back. Let’s also hope that Kamara and Murray come back in due time for the playoffs.