One constant for the New Orleans Saints this season has been veteran running back Alvin Kamara. While other key players have fallen out of the lineup with significant injuries, Kamara has battled through broken ribs, a broken hand, and several other injuries to start all 14 games.
The veteran running back hasn’t just been available, he’s been extremely productive, having one of the best statistical seasons of his accomplished career. After Week 14, he has a career-high 950 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and 68 receptions for 543 yards and two additional touchdowns.
Unfortunately, after his most recent receiving touchdown, during Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders, the injury bug visited Kamara again. The running back left the game with a groin injury, and after a day of tests, the team still doesn’t have many details about his availability moving forward.
On Monday, interim head coach Darren Rizzi told the media that Kamara is dealing with a groin adductor type of situation, and that he’s still going through tests. Rizzi also didn’t feel comfortable placing a level of severity on the injury just yet.
With just three games left in the season, and the Saints sitting at 5-9, it’d be completely understandable if the team just shut Kamara down for the season. While that’s definitely a possibility, Kamara could miss out on a special accomplishment if he doesn’t return this year.
Alvin Kamara’s status for the rest of the season is uncertain after groin injury
Despite everything Kamara has accomplished in his career, he has never had 1000 rushing yards in a single season. The dynamic running back always racks ups yards on the ground and through the air, but he’s a rare all-time great running back without a 1K rushing season.
For much of this year, it seemed like Kamara would finally add that notch to his belt. He’s been available and really productive in Klint Kubiak’s offense, and was on pace to blow through 1,000 yards. However, in the last two weeks, the offensive line has struggled a bit, resulting in Kamara rushing for just 44 yards in Week 14 and 12 in Week 15.
Now, with three games left, Kamara is just 50 yards away from 1,000. If he was playing in all three games, it’d be a safe bet that he’d reach the elusive milestone. Unfortunately, the groin injury complicates things, and adds a level of suspense to Kamara’s pursuit of a 1,000-yard rushing season.