The New Orleans Saints just got their starting offensive line on the field for the first time all season. That streak won't even last a game, as Cesar Ruiz is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Late in the first half of the game against the Buffalo Bills, Saints' right guard Cesar Ruiz had his ankle rolled up on and would not see one more snap. It was reported early that he would miss the upcoming week, but Rapoport's report provided a more specific timeline. It wouldn't be surprising to see him land on injured reserve.
For Ruiz, this is not his first injury to keep him off the field for weeks at a time. Last season, he missed four games due to a knee injury. However, this one might be his costliest injury yet, as he has not performed well enough in his career to have his starting job in the bag. During his six seasons in the black and gold, he has never had a season grade over 70 on Pro Football Focus and has caused some fans to pull their hair out.
Cesar Ruiz's injury opens the door for another Saints offensive lineman
Currently, there is no specific timetable for how long Cesar Ruiz will be out. But as Ruiz went down, Torricelli Simpkins III, the undrafted free agent out of South Carolina, stepped up. In what was a huge opportunity, the UDFA held his own, allowing only one pressure and hurry in 39 snaps played. This follows his "welcome to the NFL" game last week, during which he struggled in his first-ever start, allowing five pressures, four hurries, and one hit.
From the time he received the phone call from the Saints to the end of September, Simpkins III has put his journey to the NFL on the fast track. Quickly impressing at rookie mini camp and the offseason training activities, he saw some snaps with the second team when training camp came around. From there, he would impress coaches and fans alike during his preseason performances. And now, he's expected to be the replacement for the starting right guard.
Simpkins III is one of two players from the Saints' 2025 UDFA class to make the 53-man roster (the other one being Punter Kai Kroeger, also out of South Carolina). He even beat out seventh-round draft pick Fadil Diggs for a roster spot. His next opportunity to impress will be in the Saints' first game of October, when the New York Giants come to town.