The Saints got the kind of win that can change a mood fast, knocking off the Ravens in an upset. But the celebration came with a catch: left tackle Kelvin Banks left with an ankle injury, and that could loom over everything New Orleans does next.
Banks, the 2025 first-round pick, was hurt late in the third quarter when Ravens edge rusher Mike Green rolled up on his ankle awkwardly. He was taken to the locker room on a cart and ruled out for the rest of the game soon after.
There’s no official word yet on how serious it is. Kellen Moore kept it brief, saying, "Kelvin's got an ankle. We'll see what this thing looks like tomorrow."
That update matters because Banks is not just another body on the line. His absence would hit the Saints in both the passing game and the run game, and the ripple effects could be immediate.
The tackle depth behind him is thin. Asim Richards can provide serviceable snaps, but he is not the kind of option that holds up well against top-tier competition. If Banks misses time, opposing defensive coordinators will have a clear target to exploit, especially with a Saints offense that has been rolling.
The pressure on Tyler Shough would climb right away. Less stability on the edge means less time for plays to develop and fewer clean decisions for the quarterback. It also forces Kellen Moore to chip in extra help, whether that means keeping a tight end or running back in to assist, which cuts into route options and dulls part of the passing game.
The ground attack would take a hit too. The Saints have already had trouble sustaining a consistent run game in 2026, and losing Banks would only make that tougher. Without him, the offense would have to lean more heavily on runs inside or to the right side.
The timing is especially rough because New Orleans is headed toward a matchup with the Raiders and Maxx Crosby. Crosby’s burst, power, and relentlessness make him a major problem even when a line is intact. If Banks can’t go, the Saints would be staring at a much bigger challenge on the edge.
Richards does bring experience and positional versatility, and he can handle a lot of assignments. But if he’s pressed into a larger role, he becomes the spot defenses will hunt. For the Saints, everything now hinges on whether he can hold up and keep Shough protected.
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