Entering Week 16, injuries continue to define the 2024 season for the New Orleans Saints. Every week, the team seemingly loses a key player. In Week 13 it was Taysom Hill, Derek Carr in Week 14, and unfortunately, Alvin Kamara in Week 15.
The star running back injured his groin on his impressive one-handed touchdown catch, and on Thursday, the team admitted the injury is more significant than they thought. There were also reports that Kamara could be done for the season, but the running back is still being evaluated.
That news certainly put a damper on the Week 16 injury report, but there were also some positive developments in the report.
Saints Week 16 injury report
Player (Position) | Injury | Thursday’s practice status |
|---|---|---|
Derek Carr | Left hand | Did not practice |
Alvin Kamara | Groin | Did not practice |
Bub Means | Ankle | Did not practice |
Marquez Valdes-Scantling | Chest | Did not practice |
Chase Young | Illness | Did not practice |
Juwan Johnson | Foot | Limited practice |
Chris Olave | Head | Limited practice |
Kool-Aid McKinstry | Shoulder | Full practice |
Aside from Kamara’s news, the biggest development is Chris Olave returning to the practice field. The third-year receiver has been on injured reserve since suffering a concussion in Week 9. That was Olave’s second concussion in a month, so the team decided to place him on IR and give him the opportunity to meet with specialists.
There was a belief that he could be done for the year, and that still could ultimately be the case, but Olave has been cleared to return, and that’s why the team opened his 21-day practice window. Darren Rizzi did say Olave is unlikely to play on Monday, but there’s a chance he takes the field again this season.
Aside from those two developments, there aren’t many major storylines in the first injury report of the week. Derek Carr is still sidelined, and several other players like Chase Young and Kool-Aid McKinstry are dealing with various ailments. With the Saints playing the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football, the team will have an additional day to heal up and prepare for another game.