The New Orleans Saints are staring down a potential nightmare at left tackle for Sunday’s Week 9 game against the Cleveland Browns, with journeyman backup Mason Murphy on standby to protect their quarterback. This isn’t just a small blip on the radar for a team desperately trying to claw its way back.
Saints’ O-Line Nightmare Looms Large
This isn’t some minor bump in the road, folks. Their starting left tackle, Kelvin Banks Jr., has been sidelined since mid-September with an ankle injury. And the guy who’s been filling in for him, Asim Richards, is now questionable for Sunday with a thumb injury. You doing the math? If both Banks Jr. and Richards can’t go, it’s Mason Murphy stepping into the fire. That’s a huge deal for a Saints squad sitting at 2-5 and needing a win against a tough 5-3 Browns team. Based on observations from practice, it sounds like Richards is closer to playing than Banks Jr., but for now, both remain on injured reserve. Talk about being up against it.
More Saints Headaches, Plus Some Relief
It’s not just the offensive line that’s giving the Saints headaches. Running back CJ Donaldson has already been ruled out for Week 9 with a shoulder and concussion. That’s a significant loss, especially since he’s carved out a role as their short-yardage specialist and a reliable guy in pass protection. Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is also out with a hamstring issue. So, two important pieces officially ruled out. On the brighter side, there’s some good news for the Saints. Running back Alvin Kamara (back), safety Justin Reid (concussion), right guard Cesar Ruiz (knee), and defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (illness) are all good to go. That’s a sigh of relief, but man, those offensive line questions still loom large.
Browns Not Spared the Injury Bug
The Browns aren’t walking into this completely unscathed either. Their defensive tackle, Maliek Collins, is out for the game with an elbow injury and an illness. This guy leads their D-line in snaps by a mile, so that’s a noticeable hole for Cleveland to fill. While Shedeur Sanders is locked in as their starting quarterback, Deshaun Watson is questionable to even be the backup due to a concussion. They also have tight end Harold Fannin, who was limited this week because of a groin injury, so his availability is something to monitor. The Saints aren’t the only ones with injury concerns, but that offensive line situation for New Orleans is just brutal.
So, Sunday at the Caesars Superdome isn’t just another game for these teams. For the 2-5 Saints, facing the 5-3 Browns, it’s about staying relevant. That starts with who’s protecting the quarterback. We’ll be watching closely to see if Murphy has to step up, and how this battered offensive line handles the pressure. This is going to be a grinder.
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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