Things went from bad to worse for the New Orleans Saints during a loss to the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they lost top wideout Rashid Shaheed to a knee injury. Over a month later, is he any closer to making it back to the field?
What Is Rashid Shaheed’s Injury?
Shortly after the game against the Buccaneers wrapped up, Shaheed was diagnosed with a left meniscus injury. His doctors determined that the severity of the injury necessitated a full repair. This means that the procedure ended his season, while a less extensive trim would have left the door open for a return later this season.
Shaheed has dealt with plenty of injuries throughout his three-year NFL career. Last season, he dealt with a groin issue over the offseason and then a thigh injury that caused him to miss a pair of regular-season games. This summer, he missed preseason games with a toe injury before the meniscus injury that ended his season.
The Saints lost the first three games Shahid missed, rounding off a seven-game losing streak, but they won the next two as they stabilized a bit.
When Will Shaheed Return From Injury?
This injury situation, while unfortunate, is not a convoluted one; Shaheed’s season is over, but he will be ready to go next year in time for the preseason.
The 4-6 month expected recovery time is too long for him to have any chance of coming back this season, but it should not impede his preparation for the 2025 NFL season.
How Has Shaheed’s Absence Impacted the Saints?
In addition to playing a key role in the New Orleans offense, Shaheed was a first-team All-Pro as a punt returner last season. Even when it comes to one serving in a limited special-teams role, an All-Pro is never an easy player to replace. Shaheed returned a punt for a touchdown against the Bucs before getting injured, and he was leading the league with 15.9 yards per return.
As for the offense, Shaheed has certainly been missed as a downfield presence. He was the team’s leading receiver when he got hurt, a distinction now held by running back Alvin Kamara. As far as wideouts, Chris Olave didn’t pass Shaheed’s season total until the end of October, so it’s evident that the offense had a tough time replacing his production.
However, things have changed over the past two weeks as far as the passing game goes, perhaps not coincidentally at the same time the team has won two games in a row. Marquez Valdes-Scantling came to the team on Oct. 22, and after a quiet team debut, has been a tremendous force over the past two games.
Over that time, Valdes-Scantling has caught just five passes, but they’ve totaled 196 yards and three touchdowns. That type of big-play ability is exactly what Shaheed brought to the table, and it’s become clear that the Saints’ offense was sorely missing that element before Valdes-Scantling found a way to fill in.