For as bad as the New Orleans Saints have been, they’ve somewhat been able to lean on the excuse of bad health. Through seven weeks, New Orleans had multiple key players sidelined with injury. It’s always hard to overcome a team’s best players watching from the sideline.
The Saints didn’t overcome at all, losing five straight games. Now, as they prepare to enter Week 8, determined to save their season, the Saints are finally getting healthy.
For the first time this season, New Orleans released a promising injury report. It’s still lengthy, with 14 total players listed, but nearly all of them are practicing, and thats a great sign.
Saints Week 8 injury report
Player (Position) | Injury | Monday’s practice status |
|---|---|---|
Derek Carr (QB) | Oblique | Did not practice |
Nick Saldiveri (OL) | Shoulder | Did not practice |
Taysom Hill (Everything) | Rib | Limited practice |
Khalen Saunders (DT) | Back | Limited practice |
Lucas Patrick (OL) | Chest | Limited practice |
Cesar Ruiz (OL) | Knee | Limited practice |
Chris Olave (WR) | Concussion | Limited practice |
Pete Werner (LB) | Hamstring | Limited practice |
Connor McGovern (OL) | Concussion | Limited practice |
Alvin Kamara (RB) | Hand | Limited practice |
Cedrick Wilson Jr. (WR) | Hip | Limited practice |
Juwan Johnson (TE) | Shoulder | Limited practice |
Marshon Lattimore (CB) | Hamstring | Full practice |
Spencer Rattler (QB) | Hip | Full practice |
During his recent press conferences, head coach Dennis Allen said the team could be getting several guys back in Week 8. This injury report supports those statements.
The only two guys who didn’t practice on Wednesday were Derek Carr and Nick Saldiveri. The team has been honest that Carr is probably a week out from returning, so this isn’t a surprise. However, the veteran quarterback has started a throwing progression.
Besides those two not practicing, the rest of the injury report is great news. 10 guys had limited practice, and many of them are guys that have missed recent games. Chris Olave, Taysom Hill, Cesar Ruiz, Lucas Patrick, and Pete Werner are all important pieces for what the Saints want to do on both sides of the ball.
They’ve all been out in recent weeks and their abscences have been felt. While their returns aren’t official yet, a limited practice on Wednesday is usually good news for a player’s availability on Sunday.
Alvin Kamara, who revealed he’s playing with a broken hand, had a limited practice, but he is committed to playing as long as he can protect himself.
It’s also great to see Marshon Lattimore and Spencer Rattler, who both left the Week 7 game late with injuries, having full practices.