The New Orleans Saints have the chance to be one of the rare teams that is healthier in the second half of the season than they were in the first half. For most teams, the injuries pile up as the year grinds on, and they end up limping to the finish line.
The Saints, unfortunately, lost a lot of key guys earlier in the season, and their 2-7 record reflects that. However, New Orleans is now getting those guys back. Of course, players like Rashid Shaheed and Paulson Adebo won’t be coming back this year, but other important starters are. The Saints’ updated injury report for Week 10 reflected that.
Saints Week 10 injury report
Player (Position) | Injury | Wednesday’s practice status | Thursday’s practice status |
|---|---|---|---|
Cedrick Wilson Jr. (WR) | Shoulder | Did not practice | Did not practice |
Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB) | Hamstring | Did not practice | Did not practice |
Chris Olave (WR) | Concussion | Did not practice | Did not practice |
Lucas Patrick (OL) | Ankle | Did not practice | Did not practice |
J.T. Gray (DB) | Back | Limited practice | Limited practice |
Rico Payton (CB) | Back | Limited practice | Limited practice |
Jamaal Williams (RB) | Groin | Limited practice | Limited practice |
John Ridgeway III (DT) | Oblique | Limited practice | Limited practice |
Will Harris (S) | Hamstring | Limited practice | Full practice |
Derek Carr (QB) | Illness | Full practice | Full practice |
Alvin Kamara (RB) | Hand | Full practice | Full practice |
Shane Lemieux (OL) | Knee | Full practice | Full practice |
Nephi Sewell (LB) | Knee | Full practice | Full practice |
Erik McCoy (C) | Groin | Limited practice |
The big news is that starting center Erik McCoy has returned to practice. McCoy suffered a groin injury during the first series of the Week 3 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and New Orleans has lost every game since. The injury ultimately required surgery and a stint on injured reserve.
Now, McCoy’s 21-day practice window is open, and he could be activated at any moment. Considering that he’s been out for six weeks, and only had a limited practice on Thursday, he may not be ready to roll on Sunday, but he’s definitely a name to watch.
The other starter nearing a return from injured reserve is safety Will Harris. Harris pulled his hamstring in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs and has been out ever since. He returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity, but improved to a full practice on Thursday. He’ll now have a chance to return on Sunday and help out a really thin secondary.
Aside from those two, not much changed about the injury report, and it looks like New Orleans will probably be without Kool-Aod McKinstry, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and Lucas Patrick in Week 10.