All season, injuries to key players have been a storyline for the New Orleans Saints, so it’s only fitting that’s the case for Week 18 as well. Entering the regular-season finale, New Orleans has several starters that are dealing with various injuries. Since the team is 5-11, and isn’t playing for anything on Sunday, this shouldn’t be a big deal, but all of the injured players are pushing to play.
Playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road on Sunday, New Orleans will try to spoil Tampa’s season, as a Saints win in Week 18 will keep the Bucs out of the playoff. With that in mind, Tampa Bay should be happy with New Orleans’ first injury report of the week.
Saints Week 18 injury report
Player (Position) | Injury | Wednesday’s practice status |
|---|---|---|
Derek Carr | Left hand | Did not practice |
Alvin Kamara | Groin | Did not practice |
Kendre Miller | Concussion | Did not practice |
Payton Turner | Ankle | Did not practice |
Pete Werner | Concussion | Did not practice |
Juwan Johnson | Knee | Limited practice |
Marquez Valdes-Scantling | Chest | Limited practice |
Chris Olave | Head | Full practice |
Much like the last few weeks, New Orleans is missing a ton of key players, especially on the offensive side of the ball. With several important contributors already done for the year on injured reserve, Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, and Kendre Miller all could miss the last game of the season.
Carr and Kamara have both been been out for weeks, but they’ve both been fighting to get back on the field one last time. Although the Saints aren’t playing for anything, and both guys are established veterans that could easily shut things down, they want to suit back up. While that’s respectable, it looks like an uphill battle as both players missed Wednesday’s practice.
The Saints defense could also be without some contributors, as Payton Turner and Pete Werner also missed Wednesday’s practice.
The one player on the injury report who had a full practice is Chris Olave, and he’s an interesting case. The third-year receiver has been on injured reserve since Week 9, after suffering two concussions within four weeks of each other. He took time to rest and meet with specialists, and was recently cleared to return.
The promising wideout has been practicing with the team, and is pushing to play, but with nothing on the line for the Saints, it’s unclear if they’ll let him play in the regular-season finale on Sunday.