The New Orleans Saints just dropped a bombshell, placing their star running back, Travis Etienne Jr., on injured reserve. This isn’t some minor tweak, folks; Etienne is out for at least a month, and the ripple effect across their offense is gonna be wild. Coach Kellen Moore confirmed the significant hamstring injury won’t need surgery, but a minimum four-week recovery means the Saints are without their primary ballcarrier right when the regular season is really heating up.
Another Hamstring Blow Sidelined the $47 Million Man
Etienne’s left leg hamstring issue, which had already bothered him earlier in the week, flared up big time during their Week 3, 35-27 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. You saw it live: he pulled up on a 16-yard run, grabbing at his hamstring as he went out of bounds. Safety Jeremy Chinn gave him a push across the boundary, and while Etienne was able to walk off the field under his own power, the writing was on the wall. Three days after Moore initially said Etienne would miss time, the IR designation became official. This is a tough pill to swallow for a guy who just inked a lucrative four-year, $47 million deal in the offseason, making him the 12th-highest-paid running back in the league. And here’s the kicker: through three games, he’s got 30 carries for 128 yards but hasn’t found the end zone yet as a Saint.
Kamara’s Time To Take What’s His
So, with Etienne sidelined, who steps up? Cue Alvin Kamara. This is the moment for the veteran back to reclaim his primary ballcarrier role. Even with that huge contract for Etienne, his usage wasn’t a runaway train. Kamara, Kendre Miller, and CJ Donaldson combined for 35 carries across the first three weeks, just edging out Etienne’s 30. They were also only one target shy of matching his receiving workload. The Saints’ rushing production is middle-of-the-pack, and they lean heavily on the pass, so losing Etienne is a big blow that could make them even more one-dimensional. But Moore sounds confident, saying, “I think Alvin and Kendre will handle that load really well. CJ has obviously kind of found his specific role. We’ve got some depth on the practice squad as we navigate the next few weeks. I feel like we’re in a good place.” Kamara’s already got 24 touches to Miller’s 15, and you know he’s itching to carve out an even bigger piece of this pie. What’s next for the Saints’ backfield is clear: it’s Alvin Kamara’s show, with Miller and Donaldson backing him up, and everyone’s watching to see if they can fill those big shoes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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