Rookie running back CJ Donaldson is expected to be elevated from the New Orleans Saints practice squad for Week 1’s road game against the Detroit Lions, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
The Saints are set to have Travis Etienne Jr. and Kendre Miller available, but the backfield picture is still unsettled. Alvin Kamara is questionable, while Audric Estime has already been ruled out because of a thigh injury. If Donaldson is called up, it would count as one of the three times New Orleans can elevate him from the practice squad before needing to move him onto the 53-man roster.
Donaldson brings size to the table at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, and the Saints spent preseason and training camp testing that versatility by lining him up as both a fullback and a halfback. That role isn’t new to him; he handled similar duties in college at Ohio State and West Virginia.
His usage could go beyond the obvious short-yardage work, too. Rookie tight end Oscar Delp is out for Week 1 with a hamstring injury, which opens the door for Donaldson to contribute as a lead blocker and as an extra body against blitzing defenders in the backfield.
He should also be in position to get a few carries. Etienne is expected to handle the bulk of the rushing work, but Kamara would likely be limited even if he’s cleared, given how recently he returned from a preseason knee injury.
Miller, meanwhile, has already missed 30 of his 51 possible games with New Orleans because of injuries. Having Donaldson available gives the Saints another layer of insurance and, at the very least, helps keep Kamara from being pushed into spots that aren’t ideal.
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