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Marquez Valdes-Scantling Marquez Valdes-Scantling Comes down with illness
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 3:16 PM
Valdes-Scantling (chest) didn't practice Friday due to an illness, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: After Valdes-Scantling was held out of drills Thursday due to a chest injury, there was an expectation that he'd take part in some capacity one day later, but an ailment kept him off the practice field. Saturday's injury report will give a sense of the wide receiver's chances to suit up Monday at Green Bay. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Limited in practice again
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 3:09 PM
Olave (concussion) was a limited practice participant Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Olave returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant, with Saints coach Darren Rizzi telling reporters that the wideout "got some great news" but is "probably doubtful" to play in Monday's game at Green Bay. The Saints haven't ruled Olave out, however, and it sounds like he may return Week 17 or 18 if he isn't back Monday night. |
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Juwan Johnson Juwan Johnson Limited in practice
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 3:05 PM
Johnson (foot) was a limited practice participant Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: He played through the same injury last week, catching two of three targets for 12 yards in a 20-19 loss to the Commanders while handling a 71 percent snap share and 77 percent route share. Johnson's ability to log limited practices Thursday and Friday puts him on track to play Monday against the Packers, at which point he'll likely be catching passes from QB Spencer Rattler. |
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Bub Means Bub Means Remains sidelined Friday
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 2:50 PM
Means (ankle) remained sidelined for Friday's practice, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: Means hasn't played since Week 8 and was designated for return from injured reserve on Dec. 4, so the Saints have less than seven days before they need to make a decision on whether or not to activate the rookie wideout. The Saints go on the road for a Monday night matchup with the Packers this week. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr Missing practice again
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 2:45 PM
Carr (hand) isn't practicing Friday, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: Carr is considered unlikely to play Monday at Green Bay, but Saints coach Darren Rizzi hasn't ruled the QB out and recently pushed back on the notion of Carr being shut down for the rest of the season. Rizzi said Carr likely would need to practice Saturday to have a chance to start Monday night. |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Not practicing
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 2:43 PM
Kamara (groin) isn't practicing Friday, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: Saints coach Darren Rizzi said Thursday that Kamara is unlikely to play Monday at Green Bay. Any form of practice participation this week would be a surprise, with the Saints preparing to have Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams leading the way in the backfield. |
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Marquez Valdes-Scantling Marquez Valdes-Scantling Not practicing
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 2:42 PM
Valdes-Scantling (chest) isn't practicing Friday, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: Back-to-back absences hint at legitimate concern regarding his availability against the Packers on Monday. The short-handed Saints also have been practicing without QB Derek Carr (hand), RB Alvin Kamara (ankle) and WR Bub Means (ankle, IR), potentially leaving the offensive burden on unproven players like QB Spencer Rattler, RB Kendre Miller and WR Kevin Austin. Their healthy wide receivers besides Austin are Dante Pettis, Cedrick Wilson and Mason Tipton. |
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Jamaal Williams Jamaal Williams Will be ready if Kamara is out
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 6:32 PM
Williams said Thursday that he'll be ready in the event Alvin Kamara (groin) can't play in Monday's game at Green Bay.
Analysis: Interim coach Darren Rizzi relayed earlier Thursday that Kamara was unlikely to be available Week 16 due to the adductor injury that he sustained this past Sunday against the Commanders, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Since recording 20 touches between Weeks 1 and 2 this season, Williams' usage has been few and far between, with 22 total touches for 77 yards from scrimmage and no touchdowns across his past nine appearances. Kendre Miller appears as if he'll be the biggest beneficiary if Kamara sits out Monday, having taken 19 carries for 78 yards and one TD over the last two games. If that comes to pass, Williams and Jordan Mims will be the other backfield options on the active roster, while Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Xazavian Valladay are candidates to be elevated from the practice squad. |
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Bub Means Bub Means Doesn't practice Thursday
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 5:17 PM
Means (ankle) was listed as a DNP on Thursday's injury report.
Analysis: Means was designated to return from injured reserve Dec. 4, but he has either been a DNP or limited practice participant since. The rookie fifth-round pick would have to log multiple full practices in order to be activated off IR, and it doesn't appear likely that he'll be able to play against the Packers on Monday. |
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Spencer Rattler Spencer Rattler Will start if Carr can't
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 4:56 PM
Rattler will start Monday's game against the Saints if Derek Carr (hand) doesn't play, ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell reports.
Analysis: Reports suggest Carr is unlikely to play again this season, but Saints coach Darren Rizzi sees it differently, telling reporters that he hopes to get Carr "back here by the end of the year." Rizzi did acknowledge Carr is unlikely to play Monday, leaving Rattler as the probable starter and Jake Haener as the backup. There's a chance Rizzi makes that official Friday if Carr misses another practice. |
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Juwan Johnson Juwan Johnson Remains limited by foot issue
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 4:06 PM
Johnson (foot) was limited at practice Thursday.
Analysis: For a third week in a row, Johnson is tending to a foot injury, but he's been able to log a typical workload the last two games en route to six catches (on eight targets) for 62 yards and one touchdown over that span. With Taysom Hill out for the season due to a torn ACL, Johnson and Foster Moreau have been handling the TE reps the last three games, and neither player has topped 50 receiving yards in any given week. Both have recorded one TD catch apiece. In any case, Johnson's status will need to be monitored as the week goes on to ensure he isn't in danger of sitting out Monday's visit to the Packers. |
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Marquez Valdes-Scantling Marquez Valdes-Scantling Dealing with chest issue
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 3:46 PM
Valdes-Scantling was a non-participant at Thursday's practice due to a chest injury.
Analysis: As the Saints open Week 16 prep, Valdes-Scantling was among a handful of skill-position players to sit out drills, including QB Derek Carr (left hand), RB Alvin Kamara (groin) and WR Bub Means (ankle, IR). Kamara is unlikely to play Monday at Green Bay, while coach Darren Rizzi said Thursday that Spencer Rattler will start if Carr isn't able to, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. With a health concern now in tow, too, Valdes-Scantling's status now will be monitored to see if he also may be in danger of missing Week 16 action. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr DNP on Thursday, still may play Monday
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 3:21 PM
Interim coach Darren Rizzi said that if Carr (hand), who didn't practice Thursday, isn't able to play Monday in Green Bay, Spencer Rattler will be under center for the Saints, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Rizzi added that Carr probably will need to practice by Saturday in order to have a chance to suit up Week 16. Additionally, Rizzi pushed back at reports that Carr likely won't return this season, telling Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune, "Derek Carr wants to play this season. There is zero doubt about that. ... So, therefore, that's why this is day-to-day." In the event that Carr doesn't do enough to put an end to a one-game absence Monday, Rattler will get the start, while Jake Haener will serve as his backup. |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Unlikely to play in Week 16
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 2:47 PM
Interim coach Darren Rizzi said Thursday that Kamara (thigh) isn't likely to play Monday at Green Bay, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Kamara exited this past Sunday's loss to the Commanders in the second half due to a groin issue and wasn't able to return. On Monday, Rizzi told Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana that Kamara was dealing with an adductor injury. Rizzi's most recent comments indicate Kamara is poised to miss his first game of the season Monday, which would put Kendre Miller in a prime position out of the Saints backfield in Week 16. Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims are the other running backs on the active roster, while Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Xazavian Valladay are candidates to be elevated from the practice squad. |
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Spencer Rattler Spencer Rattler Could draw Week 16 start
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 2:42 PM
Saints head coach Darren Rizzi announced Thursday that Rattler will start versus the Packers on Monday if Derek Carr (hand) is unavailable, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: Rattler logged a solid showing after replacing Jake Haener under center during New Orleans' loss to Washington in Week 15, completing 10 of 21 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown, including a near last-second comeback. At this stage, Carr's Week 16 status is iffy, with Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football relaying that Rizzi indicated that the veteran QB would probably have to get in a practice by Saturday in order to play Monday. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Designated to return
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 2:39 PM
Interim coach Darren Rizzi said that Olave's (concussion) 21-day window in which to return from injured reserve has been opened, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports. Olave officially was limited at Thursday's practice.
Analysis: Rizzi also told Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune that Olave "got some great news. He went for a recheck like we talked about. He was cleared for football activities." Olave has been sidelined since suffering a concussion Week 9 at Carolina, missing the Saints' past five games in the process. His odds to play Monday at Green Bay aren't known, but Rizzi noted Olave is "probably doubtful" to return to action Week 16, per Paras. |
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Spencer Rattler Spencer Rattler Likely to take over as starter
Tue, Dec 17, 2024, 9:46 AM
Rattler is expected to start Monday's game against the Packers with Derek Carr (hand/concussion) likely to miss the rest of the season, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Coming out of the Saints' Week 14 win over the Giants, Carr entered the concussion protocol and was also diagnosed with two fractures in his non-throwing hand. The latter injury is viewed as the greater concern and prevented him from playing in this past Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Commanders. Jake Haener drew the start for that contest but completed four of 10 pass attempts for 49 yards and an interception while taking three sacks before being benched at halftime in favor of Rattler. The rookie out of South Carolina nearly led the Saints to a comeback from a 17-0 deficit, completing 10 of 21 passes for 135 yards, including a one-yard touchdown to Foster Moreau as time expired. Rattler's potential game-winning pass to Juwan Johnson on the two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but he likely showed enough to get the starting nod over Haener in Week 16. Rattler previously made three starts in place of an injured Carr in Weeks 6 through 8, going 0-3 in those contests while completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 5.8 yards per attempt, one touchdown and two interceptions to go with 61 yards on nine carries. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr Unlikely to return this season
Tue, Dec 17, 2024, 9:37 AM
Carr (concussion) underwent further examination of his fractured left hand and is considered a few weeks away from being cleared to take contact, making it unlikely that he'll play again this season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Carr has two different fractures in his non-throwing hand, in addition to the concussion that sidelined him for this past Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Commanders. While not yet eliminated from playoff contention, the 5-9 Saints are long shots to clinch a postseason bid and thus have little incentive to rush Carr back onto the field. Jake Haener stepped in as the starting quarterback in Week 15, but he completed just four of 10 pass attempts for 49 yards and an interception before being benched in the second half in favor of Spencer Rattler. Rattler led the Saints to four scoring drives in the final two quarters to nearly complete a comeback from a 17-0 deficit, so he could be in the driver's seat to replace Carr as the starter in New Orleans' Week 16 matchup with Green Bay on Monday. |
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Derek Carr Derek Carr Availability for Week 16 uncertain
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 1:49 PM
Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said Monday it's too soon to project whether Carr (hand/concussion) will have a chance of suiting up versus the Packers on Dec. 23, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Rizzi said it "wouldn't be a reach" for Carr to retake the field before the conclusion of the regular season, though it remains to be seen whether a road matchup with the Packers on Monday Night Football will be a realistic target for the veteran quarterback. Carr is nursing a fracture in his left, non-throwing hand and is simultaneously working his way through the concussion protocol. Jake Haener was benched early in Sunday's loss to the Commanders, while Spencer Rattler nearly led the team to a comeback win after entering the game. |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Nursing adductor injury
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 1:45 PM
Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said Monday that Kamara (groin) has been diagnosed with an adductor injury after initial medical imaging results, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: Kamara was forced out of New Orleans' 20-19 loss against Washington in Week 15 in the second half, and it's possible his groin injury could impact his availability for Monday night's road matchup against Green Bay on Dec. 23. If Kamara were to miss any time, second-year pro Kendre Miller and veteran Jamaal Williams would be positioned as the lead options in the Saints backfield. Further details on Kamara's health may not be made available until later during Week 16 prep, with New Orleans' first official practice scheduled to occur Thursday. |
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