The New Orleans Saints are riding high off an upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens; however, not everything is perfect, particularly with left tackle Kelvin Banks. The 2025 first-round pick suffered an ankle injury late in the third quarter, leaving his availability for future weeks uncertain. His return and the strengthening of the offensive line are pivotal to their success.
Banks’ ankle was awkwardly rolled upon by Ravens edge rusher Mike Green. He was carted to the locker room and ruled out for the remainder of the game shortly after.
Currently, there’s no official update on Banks’ health, Kellen Moore only saying, "Kelvin's got an ankle. We'll see what this thing looks like tomorrow." However, it’s vital that he returns soon, as he plays a massive role in the Saints’ offense and is an invaluable presence. Without him, there are serious questions that could jeopardize the offense’s efficiency.
Kelvin Banks's missing time will have significant ramifications on both the passing and rushing game.
The Saints depth at offensive tackle is subpar. Asim Richards is serviceable, but can’t protect against top-tier competition. As a result, this is something opposing defensive coordinators will exploit to help slow down a red-hot offense.
Losing Banks significantly hinders the Saints pass game. Tyler Shough will be under far more pressure, meaning there’s less time for the play to develop and make decisions. Additionally, the questions at tackle will force Kellen Moore to devote a tight end or running back to help mitigate the opposing edge rusher, delaying their route and making them a lesser receiving threat.
Beyond this, the rushing attack will be affected. The Saints have struggled to maintain a consistent run game in 2026, and losing Banks won’t help that. They won’t get the same push without him and must attack inside the tackles or on the right side.
Unfortunately for the Saints, they face arguably the NFL’s best edge rusher in Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders. Crosby’s combination of burst, power, and relentlessness make him a nightmare to game plan around, even with the starters playing. Now, it’s threat level midnight as they prepare for the possibility of losing Banks.
As stated earlier, Richard’s isn’t a bad backup. He’s an experienced player who provides depth at a variety of positions and can hold up against most competition. But he will be the weakest point on the offensive line and will be attacked. Him holding up well and keeping Shough upright is the key to the Saints’ offensive success.
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