Saints fans have every reason to keep one eye on Detroit’s injury report, because the Lions may not be anywhere close to full strength when these two teams meet in the regular season opener.
The biggest new wrinkle is Sam LaPorta. Detroit was already expected to be without Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, two key players whose season-ending injuries carried over from last year, but LaPorta’s Week 1 status suddenly looks shaky after a hip injury. That matters for New Orleans, because it changes the shape of the matchup before the game even kicks off.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said, "it flared up a little bit, it's a little aggravated, but we feel good long-term about him. We'll rest him for a little bit here and letting it calm down." He also kept a possible opening for Week 1, adding, "I feel like we'll be OK, but I don't know."
If LaPorta can’t go, that’s a major break for the Saints. He’s one of the best tight ends in the league, and his absence would take away a real weapon from Detroit’s offense. It would also leave New Orleans with a much friendlier assignment for Kaden Elliss or Pete Werner in coverage.
The Lions are already juggling a pile of injury concerns. They could open the season without both starting safeties, may be missing one of their top offensive pieces, and have also lost their starting center for an extended stretch. For the Saints, the problem is that they’re dealing with their own mess, too.
New Orleans has taken some hard hits in camp. Bryan Bresee is out for the season with a torn ACL, and Cameron Jordan’s hamstring injury leaves his status for the opener in question. That’s a rough setup for a defense that could be staring down Jahmyr Gibbs.
Bresee had started to show real progress as a run defender last year, while Jordan’s run-stopping work has long been one of his calling cards. If Jordan can’t play, that loss would be felt immediately against Detroit’s ground game.
There are some younger defensive tackles on the Saints’ roster who may have to step into bigger roles, and Detroit being without its starting center gives that group a real chance to make noise. Christen Miller looked good in his preseason debut and could get another opportunity when the regular season starts. Even so, it’s hard not to think this is the kind of spot Bresee was built for.
The Saints’ offense has been hit, too. Jordyn Tyson suffered another hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for about two months, and Alvin Kamara will miss at least a month with an MCL sprain. Both timelines rule them out for the opener.
New Orleans still has talent at wide receiver and running back, but the appeal of those groups was always the two-headed setup at each spot. That’s the part the Saints are losing right now.
So when the Saints and Lions line up for Week 1, this may come down to which team can survive the injury pileup better. Both sides are carrying enough significant losses to alter their game plans, and as the opener gets closer, the biggest hope in both locker rooms is simple: no more damage.
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Saints Backups Just Created A Preseason Problem Fans Cant Ignore
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Alex Cooks pick-six, Jarquez Hunters touchdown run and solid work from Wesley Bailey, Stetson Bennett, CJ Daniels, Austin Blaske and others turned the preseason meeting into a reminder of how much can swing once the starters are gone. For New Orleans, that is the part of August that matters now, because the challenge is no longer just finding flashes, but deciding which reserves can actually help when the games count. [Read more 🡒]