The New Orleans Saints are hoping to move to 2-0 under interim head coach Darren Rizzi. After a massive win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10, the Saints are hoping to string together a few more wins and turn their season around. For that to happen, New Orleans needs to get a win on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
Fortunately for the Saints, the Browns, now led by Jameis Winston at quarterback, are also a bad team at 2-7. Additionally, New Orleans is getting some key players back in the lineup, made official by the inactives list.
Saints Week 11 inactives
Player | Position | Year |
|---|---|---|
Millard Bradford | Safety | Rookie |
Spencer Rattler | Quarterback | Rookie |
Jamaal Williams | Running back | Eight |
Jaylan Ford | Linebacker | Rookie |
Lucas Patrick | Guard | Eight |
Mason Tipton | Wide receiver | Rookie |
Khristian Boyd | Defensive tackle | Rookie |
Key absences and their impact
Unlike most of the inactives list for the Saints this season, there aren’t many key absences on this weeks list; most of the guys are rookies who have limited roles. Lucas Patrick being sidelined does hurt the offensive line though.
However, this list is more about who isn’t on it. Guys like Erik McCoy, Pete Werner, and Kool-Aid McKinstry are all back in the lineup for Sunday’s game, and they should make a big difference.
McCoy’s return is definitely huge, as the Pro Bowl center had been sidelined with a groin injury since Week 3. The injury required surgery and landed him on injured reserve. While he was rehabbing, the Saints offense was struggling in his absence.
He returned to practice last week, but wasn’t ready to go in Week 10. After another week of practice, he’s back at the middle of the offensive line for a big game against the Browns. If he can quickly knock off any rust, he should help the run game get rolling and keep Derek Carr clean. When both of those things happen, the Saints tend to win games. Hopefully they’ll do that on Sunday.