Travis Etienne Jr.’s hamstring injury has pushed the Saints into a tricky spot at the exact wrong time. New Orleans now has to figure out how to keep the ground game alive without the back who had quietly become its most efficient runner, and the assignment comes Monday night against an Atlanta defense that has been brutal on opposing rushing attacks.
Coach Kellen Moore said Monday that Etienne will be out, though the Saints have not given a return timetable. That news lands on the heels of a rough 35-27 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, when New Orleans blew an 11-point lead and coughed up four fourth-quarter turnovers.
Etienne’s numbers this season aren’t eye-popping, but they matter. He has 30 carries for 128 yards, a team-best 4.3 yards per carry among Saints running backs, and he has added 11 catches for 51 yards. That kind of all-around production gave New Orleans a runner who could stay on the field, keep defenses honest and chip in as a receiver when the offense leaned on quarterback Tyler Shough and the short game.
That versatility is the real loss.
Alvin Kamara is still the biggest name in the backfield, but the Saints can’t just dump the entire load on him. He has 18 carries for 51 yards, a 2.8-yard average, plus six receptions for 12 yards. Kamara can still be dangerous when he gets space, but the Saints are better off using him in the right spots than trying to make him the answer to everything.
That leaves Kendre Miller with a real opening. He has 44 rushing yards and one touchdown on 13 carries this season, and his career line - 541 yards and four touchdowns on 140 attempts - shows a back who has flashed but hasn’t locked down a major role yet.
This is his chance.
Miller doesn’t need to be Etienne. What the Saints need is a back who runs decisively, handles pass protection and turns the routine stuff into productive snaps instead of chasing splash plays.
His Week 1 outing pointed in that direction: nine carries, 30 yards and an 8-yard touchdown. Not flashy, but useful.
And right now, useful is what New Orleans needs.
The matchup makes the challenge even tougher. Through three games, the Falcons have allowed just 143 rushing yards on 52 attempts, a 2.8-yard average, and they have not given up a rushing touchdown. That’s a bad draw for a team trying to stabilize itself on the ground.
So New Orleans will need to get creative. Motion, screens and quick throws can function as part of the run game, and Shough’s mobility can help too - as long as the Saints don’t ask him to take unnecessary hits over and over again. The goal should be to force Atlanta to defend the whole field before trying to run through the middle of it.
Both teams enter the divisional game at 1-2, and Atlanta is coming off a 35-14 win over Green Bay. The Saints, meanwhile, are trying to make sure one fourth-quarter collapse doesn’t become the story of their season.
The Saints host the Falcons on Monday, Oct. 5, at the Caesars Superdome. For Miller, it’s a difficult assignment. It’s also the clearest opportunity he’s had in a while.
In Other News...
Saints Suddenly Have A Backfield Problem They Can't Ignore
Travis Etiennes injury in Week 3 has left the Saints looking a lot thinner in the backfield than they were just a few days ago. With the run game already leaning on Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller as backup options, New Orleans suddenly has to sort through a position group that no longer looks as dependable or as explosive as it did when Etienne was available.
The Saints have already moved on from other running backs, which makes the depth issue even harder to ignore. If they want to steady the offense, they may need to look beyond the current room and consider outside help, with names like Zamir White or other free agents now part of the conversation as New Orleans tries to find some stability on the ground. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Just Exposed A Defensive Problem They Cant Ignore
Tyler Shough did enough on offense to give New Orleans a real chance Sunday, throwing four touchdown passes in the Saints' 35-27 loss to Las Vegas. Even with that kind of production under center, the result still turned on what happened the other way, where the Saints struggled to handle Brock Bowers and the Raiders' passing game.
Bowers, the rookie tight end, kept finding soft spots and matchup advantages against New Orleans, averaging nearly 12 yards per catch while helping tilt the game in Las Vegas' favor. The way Kubiak chose to start Bowers ended up mattering in a major way, and it left the Saints with a defensive issue they cannot afford to let linger. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Backfield Suddenly Has A New Problem Ahead Of Vikings Game
The Saints backfield took another hit when Travis Etienne Jr. left the game against the Raiders with a hamstring injury, adding to a running back picture that has already been unsettled. It comes at a rough time for New Orleans, which has leaned on depth and flexibility at the position while trying to keep the offense moving through the early part of the season.
Minnesota made the situation even more interesting by signing former Saints backs Devin Neal and Audric Estime to its practice squad after both were released by New Orleans because of injuries. With the Vikings set to visit in Week 5, there is at least a chance the Saints could be looking across the field at two familiar names, even as they wait to find out how serious Etiennes setback turns out to be. [Read more 🡒]