The New Orleans Saints’ bad injury luck continues as running back Alvin Kamara will miss approximately one month with a sprained MCL. This loss has significant ramifications for the Saints’ offense and Travis Etienne Jr., as he will be forced to take on a higher workload until the veteran returns.
The Saints signed Etienne to form a dynamic duo with Kamara. Them splitting carries would give the offense an explosive option with fresh legs always available. However, that will have to wait as the weight of the rushing attack falls upon Etienne’s shoulders to start the year.
Obviously, he won’t be alone. The Saints have a deep running back room with Devin Neal, Kendre Miller, and Audric Estime all fighting for a roster spot. The winner of this battle will undoubtedly contribute in Kamara’s absence, but they won’t see the same amount of snaps that Etienne will.
Travis Etienne has been in this position before and showcased that he can lead the rushing game.
Although this situation isn’t ideal, Etienne has produced in a single-star backfield. Last year with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he led the team with 260 carries. After him, the next running back had 82. A similar instance was evident in 2023 when he had 217 more carries than the following back.
Etienne surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in both of these years. He’s able to produce even when he has tired legs and a defense is focusing on him. The Saints haven’t had a player capable of this in recent memory, as Kamara’s been injury-riddled and works best in a committee. This should give fans hope that the rushing attack will be alright in the veteran’s wake.
Fortunately for the Saints, Kamara’s injury isn’t long-term, and Etienne only has to carry the running game for a few weeks. Still, it’s a tall task, and the defense will key in on him. Etienne producing at an efficient rate during these games is pivotal to the offense's success and will help determine if the offense thrives or fails.
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