The Detroit Lions walked out of last year with three key players suffering season-ending injuries: Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta. There's a chance the New Orleans Saints won't see any of the three in the regular season opener. Joseph and Branch were expected, but a new injury for LaPorta has his Week 1 status up in the air.
LaPorta needed surgery for a fully herniated disc last year, but this a hip injury. It would be interesting to watch Kaden Elliss or Pete Werner trying to cover the tight end.
Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters, "it flared up a little bit, it's a little aggravated, but we feel good long-term about him. We'll rest him for a little bit here and letting it calm down." He does leave the door open to an appearance on Week 1 saying, "I feel like we'll be OK, but I don't know."
Saints vs Lions could be a battle of who stays the healthiest
The absence of LaPorta is definitely something the Saints could take advantage of. He's one of the best tight ends in the league. Of course it's better to not have to face someone of his caliber.
LaPorta is one of many key injuries the Lions are managing. Going into the season, they'll be without their starting safeties, possibly one of their top offensive weapons and they lost their starting center for a long period of time. Unfortunately for the Saints, the Lions aren't the only ones with the injuries piling up.
The Saints have suffered their fair share of injuries as well, and all of them have come in camp. Bryan Bresee is out for the season with a torn ACL, and Cameron Jordan suffered a hamstring injury that has his status for the opener unknown.
Two major injuries on the defensive front is not what the Saints need ahead of a matchup with Jahmyr Gibbs. Bresee showed improvements as a run defender last year, and Jordan takes great pride in his run defense. The latter's absence would be strongly felt against the Lions
The Saints have some young defensive tackles who can step in, and Detroit playing without their starting center is a great opportunity for your defensive linemen to feast. Christen Miller looked good in his preseason debut and could once again with this opportunity in the regular season debut. It still feels like a missed opportunity to not have Bresee in this situation.
Offensively, Jordyn Tyson suffered yet another hamstring injury that will keep him out for about two months, and Alvin Kamara will be out for at least a month with a MCL sprain. Both timelines keep the players out for the opener.
There's still talent at wide receiver and running back, but the two headed monster at each position is what made the offense have dangerous and special potential.
Each the Saints and Lions enter the season opener with some potentially devastating injuries. The injuries for each team are big enough to change how they game plan. As the season gets nearer, both fan bases are just hoping for no more injuries.
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