Travis Etienne left Sunday's game versus the Las Vegas Raiders with a hamstring injury. While Kellen Moore couldn't give a specific time, he was able Etienne will have to miss time due to the injury. That's a tough blow for a New Orleans Saints rushing attack that was already struggling to get rolling.
Etienne dealt with a hamstring injury this week that kept him limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday. The running back was a full participant on Friday, however, and entered the game without an injury designation. It ended up being the same hamstring he injured in Sunday's game, though Moore would only go as far as saying it was the same leg not that it was a re-aggravation.
Hamstring injuries have plagued the Saints this year. Jordyn Tyson is currently on injured reserve with one, and Cam Jordan missed the first game of the season because of a hamstring injury suffered early in training camp. Those happened in the offseason and resulted in missed time in the regular season, a similar timeline for Etienne would mean no less than a month worth of games missed.
Saints and Travis Etienne were finally figuring it out then boom
"Miss time" is vague and should be taken as a sign of uncertainty, but it can be assumed at the moment that a multiple game absence is on the way. When asked if injured reserve was an option, Moore was uncertain. The Saints may not know just how bad the injury is, but not shutting down injured reserve seems like they're preparing for multiple weeks missed.
There's also something to be said for the cautious approach they've taken to Tyson and Jordan's injuries. They heavily managed Tyson through offseason team activities and minicamp. Jordan was feeling better going into the season opener, but he still missed the game.
The team's actions this offseason also suggest Etienne will miss at least a couple of games due to this injury. Even if it's just a one week injury, they'll take a little extra time to be safe. It's hard to argue with that approach to hamstring injuries.
Hamstrings are one of those injuries that find a way to keep coming back. Heck, this is Etienne's second hamstring injury he had to deal with in the span of a week. Tyson has battled it for months before his latest injury in training camp.
The Saints aren't going to push Etienne back into the lineup quickly, and they're right to be patient. Sunday's injury may have been proof. We'll never know for sure, but Etienne may have needed time to rest his hamstring.
Regardless if that's the case, the Saints likely won't even risk making that mistake a second time.
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