This is the most important year of Kendre Miller's professional career. And with Alvin Kamara out to start the season, Miller has to seize his moment while he has a higher position in the New Orleans Saints backfield.
Miller's story has been tragic since being drafted by the Saints. He's been the ultimate eye test player, but health and poor blocking up front, but mostly health, have been Miller's biggest adversaries. Time will tell on whether or not he can stay healthy, but the blocking up front has improved.
Kamara will likely be out for at least the first two games of the season, and Miller will assume his role as Travis Etienne's running mate in the interim. Those two games could be what keeps Miller in New Orleans in 2027 or earns him a spot elsewhere.
Kendre Miller is one of the Saints with the most to lose all year
The pressure has been on the fourth-year running back since the offseason began. You can't tell the story of Miller's career without discussing his past with injuries. He's missed significant time every year, but the torn ACL he suffered early last season was the first major injury the running back has suffered in the league.
The ACL injury kept Miller until camp, and one thing became clear: Miller had competition for his job. That had never truly been the case until now. Miller was written in as RB2 behind Kamara, and even if someone was able to take it, the worst Miller would be in RB3.
Devin Neal and Audric Estime were real threats to take Miller's spot, and that could have resulted in Miller not making the team at all. All three players have dealt with injuries in camp, and the Saints will likely keep four on the initial 53 man roster. Miller still passes the eye test in a limited action.
Going into the season, the pressure only amplifies because it's a contract year. There is no guarantees the Saints will bring Miller back with a new contract. Even with the injuries, there's still been hope that he could stay healthy and fully showcase his abilities.
This is the chance for Miller. It will be limited because of Etienne, but it's still a larger role than he would have had originally. If Miller sees 7 carries a game but impresses, he could stay a part of the rotation when Kamara returns.
Truthfully, Kamara is on a clock and won't be a part of this team moving forward. It's hard to depend on someone with Miller's injury history, but at just 24 years old, Miller could be a part of the future. These 2-3 weeks to start the season are about proving he should be a part of that plan.
It could be a three week preview into what Miller and Etienne could look like for the next couple of years, or it could serve as audition tape for other teams around the league. Miller has been injured so many times that this year could serve as a year to show every team that he still has it.
Add us as a preferred source on Google