New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore just dropped a bombshell, telling reporters Thursday that star running back Travis Etienne Jr. is heading to injured reserve. This isn’t just a minor setback; Etienne’s dealing with a hamstring injury that will sideline him for at least four weeks, leaving a massive hole in the Saints’ offense right when they need him most.
The Brutal Reality: Four Weeks, A Trip to Paris, And A Stalled Offense
Etienne’s hamstring has been bothering him for a bit. He was limited in practice last week, and bless his heart, he tried to tough it out in Sunday’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. But man, it didn’t work. He went down hard at the end of a 16-yard run, visibly in pain as he limped back to the sideline. Now, he’s stuck on IR, which means we won’t see him back on the field for at least four weeks. That brutal stretch includes two home games, a flight all the way to New York, and, get this, the NFL’s first-ever game in Paris. He’ll miss all that action, not even sniffing the field until after the Saints’ bye week.
The $47 Million Question: When Does Etienne Actually Come Back?
For a guy who just signed a four-year, $47 million contract with $24 million guaranteed back in March, this is a gut punch. Etienne had shown he could bounce back, too, recovering from a knee injury that cost him his entire 2021 rookie season. He then went on to tear it up, rushing for 1,000 or more yards in three of the next four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. So, yeah, this is a big deal. While the earliest date for his return is the November 8th home game against the Cleveland Browns, Coach Moore’s “we’ll see” comment about his recovery isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for a quick comeback. It definitely hints he might need even more time to truly heal up. And as if that wasn’t enough, starting left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., last year’s first-round pick, is also potentially out for the season after ankle surgery. This team is getting hammered.
How the Saints navigate their run game in Etienne’s absence? That’s the million-dollar question now, and fans are going to be glued to every update until we get some clarity.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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