New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is officially listed as questionable for Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings because of a back injury, but the expectation is that he suits up Sunday.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Kamara is expected to play through the injury. He posted: "#Saints RB Alvin Kamara (back) is expected to play against the #Vikings, source says."
The Saints are already without Travis Etienne Jr., who is on injured reserve with a hamstring issue, so Kamara is in position to handle the lead role in this backfield for a second straight week. Even then, the workload hasn’t been heavy. In Week 4, he was on the field for 37.8 percent of New Orleans’ snaps.
That usage pattern has been the story of Kamara’s season. Through three games in 2026, he has played just 33.3 percent of the Saints’ offensive snaps. He’s also logged nine or fewer carries in each of those games, and he has topped that number only once.
Production-wise, Kamara has 25 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns this season, a clear sign that the veteran isn’t operating at the same level he once did. The split with Kendre Miller is expected to continue on Sunday, and the matchup doesn’t do Kamara any favors.
Minnesota’s defense enters the game ranked No. 1 in the league in EPA/Play, which makes this a particularly difficult spot for a banged-up back who hasn’t been featured heavily.
From a betting angle, that’s enough to cool expectations on Kamara in the prop market. The combination of injury, limited snap share and a tough Vikings defense points to a rougher afternoon than usual.
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Saints Defense Has A New Problem Before Undefeated Vikings Arrive
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The defensive line has been hit especially hard, with Christen Miller listed as questionable because of illness while the Saints also had to sort through other absences on the injury report. For a defense trying to get ready for one of the leagues hottest teams, the availability picture is far from settled, and it leaves New Orleans waiting to see how much it can piece together before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]