New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara could be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a groin injury he sustained last week in a one-point loss to the Washington Commanders. He has already been ruled out for Monday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
Should fans expect to see Kamara down the home stretch?
Saints RB Alvin Kamara Will Miss Monday Night vs. Packers
Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said ahead of Week 16 that the groin injury is more substantial than the team originally thought.
“The situation with Alvin right now, it was probably a little more significant than we initially thought,” Rizzi said. “He’s week-to-week at the moment. I’m going to be honest, it doesn’t look great for this week. We’ll see if it’s going to be multiple weeks. He doesn’t look great for this week.”
Kamara, who is having the most productive rushing season of his career, has already generated 950 yards through 14 games. He was almost certain to attain his first 1,000-yard season, and he also amassed 543 yards as a receiver out of the backfield.
In 2020, Kamara fell 68 yards short of topping the 1,000-yard mark. When the milestone was within reach, he tested positive for COVID-19 in the season’s final week.
If the Saints lose to the Packers, they would be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. They are currently 5-9 and would need a lot of help to get in.
New Orleans has little incentive to rush Kamara back to play in meaningless games. It appears under those circumstances that his season would end.
Saints running back Kendre Miller hasn’t gotten much work behind Kamara this season, but he’s the clear favorite to absorb his snaps. The second-year running back struggled through an injury-plagued rookie season, but he has exhibited signs of brilliance since returning to health.
The team also recently added former Kansas City Chiefs first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire for added insurance.
Miller rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries of the final game of 2023, averaging a whopping 5.62 yards per carry. He has only played in four games this season, but he’s made the most of his reps. Miller has rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown on just 28 carries in a relief role. He will have an opportunity to take the full workload with Kamara on the shelf.
After the Saints tangle with the Packers, they finish the season with games against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.