After missing five games, New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne is trending toward a return for Sunday’s Week 10 division matchup with the Carolina Panthers.
He’s still listed as questionable because of a hamstring injury and has not yet been activated from injured reserve, but the signs around him are encouraging. Etienne was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before turning in a full session Friday, and New Orleans still has a roster opening after sending veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this week.
“He’s progressing well,” coach Kellen Moore said. “We’ll finish off this week, but yeah, doing well.”
Etienne had 128 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries before hurting his hamstring in the third quarter of a Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Since then, the Saints have rotated through different options at running back, though last week may have given them a clearer answer in Audric Estimé. He ran for 72 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries against Cleveland.
Etienne said the call on whether he plays is out of his hands, but he came away from the week feeling strong and said his condition kept improving as the week went on.
“I’m just trying to keep my head focused to get on my game plan so when they do call me up, I’m ready,” Etienne said. “I feel great, I want to be out there with the team, I want to be out there with the guys, but it’s not up to me.”
New Orleans will be without offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga (knee), center Erik McCoy (bicep), defensive lineman Christen Miller (knee) and running back C.J. Donaldson (shoulder). Defensive back Martin Emerson (shin) is questionable.
Carolina’s injury report includes linebacker Bobby Okereke (foot) out, running back Jonathan Brooks (groin) and corner Michael Jackson (groin) doubtful, and guard Brady Christensen (hamstring), cornerback Will Lee (hamstring), wide receiver Xavier Legette (knee) and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (hamstring) questionable.
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Saints Top Draft Slot Could Reshape Two Trouble Spots
With the draft board starting to take shape, the Saints are looking at a first-round decision that could help solve two of their biggest roster questions at once. Offensive tackle Zeroue Williams and edge rusher Devan Thompkins both fit areas where New Orleans could use a long-term boost, and each brings a different kind of appeal depending on how the team wants to attack the 12th pick.
Williams offers the kind of size and positional profile that can stabilize the line, while Thompkins would give the Saints another way to pressure opposing quarterbacks. The coaching staffs direction will matter here, as will how the front office weighs immediate need against overall value, but the larger point is clear: this pick could be the one that starts to reshape two trouble spots on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Pass Rush Is Suddenly Raising A Bigger Question
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For a team trying to build on its defensive identity, the obvious next question is how sustainable this surge really is. Young and Granderson have given New Orleans a legitimate weekly pressure threat, but the bigger challenge now is whether the Saints can keep getting that kind of disruption when opponents start adjusting their protections and game plans around them. [Read more 🡒]
Chase Young Is Giving The Saints Defense A New Edge
Chase Young has settled into a more prominent role since arriving in New Orleans, and the edge rusher sounds like a player who knows exactly what kind of impact he can still make. Through parts of three seasons with the Saints, he has produced 23.5 sacks, a sign that his game has found some consistency after earlier stops with Washington and San Francisco. For a defense trying to keep the Saints in the mix in a competitive NFC South, that kind of presence matters.
Young spoke confidently this week about his ability to win against blockers and about how much he has grown since his earlier years in the league. At 3-5, New Orleans still has work to do, but the Saints have reason to lean on him as one of the tone-setters on that side of the ball. The bigger question now is how far that edge can carry a defense that needs more than just flashes to stay in the hunt. [Read more 🡒]