Key player is dealing with a sprained ankle, 2 more Saints starters injured

Alvin Kamara is dealing with a sprained ankle, 2 more Saints starters injured

NO.saintsbucs.010124 HS 5743.jpg

TAMPA, Fla. — An otherwise happy day in South Florida was marred a bit by injuries.

Running back Alvin Kamara missed the entire second half with a sprained ankle, which puts his status for next week’s regular season finale in question. Coach Dennis Allen said Kamara tried warming up for the second half and could not go.

“Just didn’t feel like he was going to be able to be functional enough to help us win,” Allen said.

Jamaal Williams carried the bulk of the load with Kamara out for the second half, finishing with 58 yards on 19 carries.

In addition to Kamara, two other Saints starters went down Sunday afternoon.

Linebacker Nephi Sewell, who had taken over the starting strongside linebacker job after Zack Baun moved into a pass-rushing specialist role late this season, went down with a left knee injury on the same play as Alontae Taylor’s interception.

Sewell had to be carted off the field, and he was quickly declared out for the remainder of the game. Allen described Sewell’s injury as “significant” after the game.

Landon Young, who started his third straight game at right tackle in place of the injured Ryan Ramczyk, needed help walking off the field just two plays later after he collapsed to the turf with his own knee injury.

The Saints replaced Young in the lineup with Cam Erving, whom they’d signed from their practice squad Saturday after placing Ramczyk on injured reserve.

The offensive line held up despite the fact they were playing with their third string right tackle.

“Stay ready so you ain’t gotta get ready, that’s always been my mentality,” Erving said. “It’s hard, but you’ve got to be prepared to be ready to go. It’s a game of sudden change and you’re always one play away from playing.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *