Saints’ Alvin Kamara reportedly will face a six-game suspension in 2022

A potential suspension has loomed over Alvin Kamara’s future ever since the New Orleans Saints running back got arrested in February, and new reports reveal he could miss six games at the minimum.

Kamara faces felony battery charges dating back to an altercation in Las Vegas before the Pro Bowl in which Kamara reportedly “threw a couple punches.”

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio recently said that Kamara could be slapped with at least a six-game suspension in 2022, which makes sense given that the league’s personal conduct policy dictates a six-game suspension for felony battery.

However, Kamara himself has since responded to Florio’s claims with the following tweet:

NOLA Saints still don’t know how many games Alvin Kamara may miss in 2022

Kamara’s next hearing is set for August, and as with most other cases, the league usually waits until the legal process has concluded before disciplining players.

If Florio’s sources are correct and Kamara does miss at least six games this season, the Saints will face an uphill battle as they try to make a return to the playoffs and win their way back to relevance in 2022.

In 2021, NOLA was 9-4 in games that Kamara played in and 0-4 in games that he missed. That record shows just how much the Saints rely on Kamara in the running game, but 2022 could offer a brighter outcome given the team’s revamped passing attack.

A middling quarterback room of Taysom Hill, Trevor Siemian, and Ian Book along with sub-par performances from the wideouts caused the Saints to finish at the bottom of the league in passing yards last year. Now, with Jameis Winston under center and elite pass-catching options in Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, and Jarvis Landry, NOLA may not lean so much on the rushing attack, instead focusing on generating rhythm in the passing offense.

Kamara finished with a career-worst efficiency rate last year (3.7 rushing yards per carry), a direct product of the O-line’s down year as well as the team having no better option than to give Kamara the ball.

Kamara’s potential absence could make room for Mark Ingram or a young talent to take starting snaps in 2022, but six weeks is a long time for any backup to keep the rushing attack potent.

Keep your eyes peeled on Kamara’s developing situation this offseason.