Alvin Kamara is set to give the Saints’ offense a different look on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans has every reason to expect its veteran back to be back in the mix after sitting out Week 1 with a knee injury.
Kamara did not play in the opener even though he was on the practice field all week, but his situation has moved in the right direction. He sprained his MCL in the Saints’ joint practice against the Dallas Cowboys and was originally expected to miss about a month.
Instead, he’s ahead of schedule, and Kellen Moore said the veteran was healthy enough to go last week. The Saints chose to be cautious after Wednesday’s practice.
"I think it was just a matter of time on task, getting a full week's work," Moore said. "I thought he did an amazing job to put himself in a position last week to practice really well. And so he's in a great place.
That matters because Kamara changes the shape of the backfield. The Saints signed Travis Etienne this offseason to pair with him, and on paper it gives New Orleans a running game built on speed, elusiveness and vision. Both backs can stress a defense in different ways, and the idea is simple: keep fresh legs available and keep the pressure on.
Without Kamara in Week 1, fans didn’t get to see that tandem in action. Kendre Miller handled some of the load and showed he’s a good athlete, but he’s still building toward that level of experience. The Saints also saw defenses key in on Etienne, especially when the passing game stalled in the first half.
The offensive line still has work to do, but Kamara’s presence should help the efficiency of the ground game. He’s not likely to be asked for 15-plus carries in a split-backfield setup, but he should still matter plenty as a runner and as a pass catcher, especially when Etienne needs a breather.
That’s a big deal against Baltimore. The Ravens come in with an elite run defense after allowing 102 rushing yards in their Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The number doesn’t jump off the page, but the Colts do have a strong rushing attack led by Jonathan Taylor, and Baltimore’s front seven has the kind of force that can shrink an offense if the execution isn’t sharp.
Tyler Shough will draw plenty of attention going into the game, but the Saints’ run game may end up deciding how effective the offense really is. Getting Kamara back gives New Orleans another layer, and with Etienne alongside him, the backfield should look a lot different than it did last week.
In Other News...
Saints Defense Has A Brandon Staley Twist Fans Need To Watch
The Saints leaned into a more unconventional defensive look against the Lions, and it was easy to see Brandon Staleys influence in the way the rotation was handled. Instead of sticking rigidly with the usual personnel, New Orleans mixed in cornerback Martin Emerson for starter Quincy Riley and gave linebacker Danny Stutsman turns in place of Pete Werner, a reminder that this staff is willing to use game action as a development tool, not just a reward for the established names.
For Kellen Moore and Staley, the idea is straightforward: build depth now so the defense has more answers later. Emersons return was especially notable because it was his first game action since 2024 after recovering from a torn Achilles, and the Saints clearly wanted to ease him back while also getting a closer look at what he can handle. How far that rotation expands from here will be worth watching, because it could say a lot about how this defense is being shaped beyond the current week. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Suddenly Have A Week 2 Concern Fans Cant Ignore
The Saints got a little healthier on the margins this week, with tight end Juwan Johnson back as a limited participant after missing time, and running back Alvin Kamara still trending toward a return after working his way back from an MCL sprain. Even so, the injury report carried more than a little attention for New Orleans, because wide receiver Chris Olave showed up limited with a hamstring issue and pass rusher Chase Young was listed the same way with a calf concern.
For a team trying to steady itself early in the season, those are the names worth watching most closely. The Saints have enough moving parts already, and any limitation for Olave affects the passing game, while Youngs status matters to a defense that wants pressure without having to manufacture it. The Ravens had their own lengthy list of non-participants, but for New Orleans the bigger question is whether two key starters can get through the week without this becoming something more than a routine September injury note. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Just Sent A Strong Signal About A Rookie Running Back
The Saints made a notable roster move this week by promoting rookie running back CJ Donaldson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, a clear sign that the undrafted Ohio State back has quickly earned their attention. His path to the active roster came as the team needed a replacement for long snapper Zach Wood, who was placed on injured reserve, creating an opening New Orleans used to elevate a young back rather than simply shuffle depth at another position.
Scott Daly was signed to the practice squad to handle the long-snapping duties, which frees the Saints to keep Donaldson in the building with a more prominent role. For a rookie who arrived without draft-day fanfare, the move at least suggests the team sees enough in him to keep him close as they sort out the backfield and decide how much responsibility he can handle going forward. [Read more 🡒]