Audric Estime’s return to the Saints has taken on a much bigger feel now that the running back room has thinned out.
What looked like a tough break when he was released with an injury settlement has suddenly turned into a real opportunity. New Orleans already made the move to release Daniel Carlson Tuesday afternoon, and the next step was bringing Estime back into a backfield that is now short on healthy bodies.
Right now, the Saints have only two healthy running backs: Kendre Miller and Alvin Kamara. Updates are still pending on Travis Etienne and CJ Donaldson, which leaves the team in a spot where the depth chart could look very different by Sunday.
That makes Estime’s presence a lot more intriguing. The Saints are expected to run the ball better than they did against the Steelers, but it would still be something if Estime walked back in and led the team in rushing yards - or even just turned in a strong game.
He also isn’t coming in blind. Estime spent about three weeks with the Browns and played in one game, where he scored a touchdown. That gives him at least some inside knowledge on the Saints’ upcoming opponent.
The biggest question, though, is whether Travis Etienne will be available at all.
Etienne hasn’t played since he hurt his hamstring against the Raiders in Week 3. He’s already completed the required four weeks on injured reserve and got an extra week because of the bye, so there’s been plenty of hope around his return to the starting lineup.
Still, nothing is guaranteed. The Saints could be setting up for the possibility that Etienne won’t be ready, and an update on him is expected Wednesday along with Tyson. How cautious the Saints are with Etienne will be worth watching closely.
If Etienne can’t play, Sunday gets a lot more interesting. The team missed out on a true preseason competition between a healthy Estime and a healthy Miller, and there’s an argument to be made that Estime was the best running back on the roster when he was healthy in the preseason.
He also had the edge over Miller when both were available last season. Estime broke off a 30-yard run and was the more efficient runner overall.
That sets up a carry split worth watching if the Saints go into the game with Estime, Miller and Kamara as their main backs. Estime has done well with the chances he’s gotten, and there’s no reason to think he can’t do it again.
If that happens, Miller may quickly realize that the competition he thought was behind him is still right there in front of him.
In Other News...
Gayle Benson Sends Saints A Clear Message About This Season
Gayle Benson is not sounding the alarm on the Saints 2-5 start, at least not publicly. The team owner said she still believes in the effort being shown inside the building, even as New Orleans has struggled to find consistency and has already made one notable staff move by parting with run-game coordinator T.J. Paganetti.
Bensons comments leave the bigger picture hanging over the rest of the season, with the Saints still trying to stabilize things before any broader decisions are made. She also touched on the possibility of New Orleans taking part in an NFL International Series game in Italy, a reminder that even in a difficult year, the franchise is still being discussed in a wider league context. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Reach A Roster Crossroads With Deadline Pressure Building
The Saints are entering a stretch where every roster decision seems to carry extra weight, with injured players being evaluated for possible returns to practice as the team tries to sort out its next move. Jordyn Tyson, Travis Etienne Jr. and Kelvin Banks Jr. are all part of that discussion, giving New Orleans a few potential reinforcements to consider even as the club navigates a season that has already forced some hard choices.
At the same time, the front office is also keeping an eye on the market, with Kendre Miller and Justin Reid drawing attention as possible trade candidates if the Saints decide to lean toward selling. No deals have been made, but with the deadline pressure building, the balance between getting healthier and reshaping the roster is becoming harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Finally Made A Kicker Change Fans Saw Coming
The Saints finally moved on from Daniel Carlson after seven games, a change plenty of fans had been expecting as the kicking struggles kept piling up. Carlsons field goal percentage sat among the worst in the NFL through eight weeks, and the problems were hard to ignore with four misses from 50 yards or more and two extra points slipping away in a season where every point has mattered.
New Orleans does have an internal option waiting in Charlie Smyth, who is already on the practice squad and showed enough promise last season to stay in the conversation. Whether the Saints give him the first shot or look elsewhere, the decision now shifts from frustration to urgency, because the kicking game has already cost them too much room for error. [Read more 🡒]