Just a few days after returning to the New Orleans Saints, running back Audric Estime proved that it was the right move for the team to bring him back. They wouldn't have been able to take down the Cleveland Browns last Sunday if it weren't for the plays he made.
Since being released with an injury settlement back in September, Estime has been on two other teams: the Minnesota Vikings and the Browns. A long journey that the half-back himself called a roller coaster, his return to the Superdome was long-awaited. What's more is that given the historically bad rushing performance they just had in Paris, it was also much needed.
The run game was broken heading into the game, coming off of a historically bad rushing performance in Paris. New Orleans made several moves over the bye to fix it, including releasing RB Kendre Miller, leaving a void in the ground game that needed to be filled. They needed somebody that could help push the offense forward along with Tyler Shough, which was obviously something they felt Estime was better suited for.
Audric Estime was a missing piece of the Saints' run game
His presence was quickly felt on the field, racking up 32 yards on the first three plays, nearly double the Saints' entire rushing total in Paris (18). Finishing with 72 yards and a touchdown, Estime kept the ground game going, possibly even inspiring Shough to a season-high 51 rushing yards. Overall, the rushing attack appeared to be the most comfortable it has been all season, with New Orleans rushing for 160 yards and an average of five yards per carry.
Estime's performance on Sunday gets more impressive when you remember that at that point, he was only on the team for four days. But after Kellen Moore saw him in Wednesday's practice, he said it was obvious he should be in the game plan.
"It seemed like he knew every single assignment. He was dialed, and it became a no-brainer for me that we have to get him ready to roll," the head coach said following the win. "I thought his juice and physicality were real."
Estime is just so clearly loved by the locker room on top of the coaching staff if the reaction to him getting a game ball meant anything. Moving forward, he has to be the RB1 in New Orleans until Travis Etienne returns from injured reserve. His mix of pure power and speed is really something that the backfield has been needing.
What makes this situation even better is that Estime loves the team and fans right back. Returning to New Orleans was the number one thing he wanted after being waived by Cleveland, and he told the team after the game that he's glad to be home. Well, the Who Dat Nation is glad to have him home as well.
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