The Saints and Giants are set to get some good news before Sunday’s Week 6 matchup, with four notable players expected to be available despite entering the game with questionable tags.
For New Orleans, running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Chris Olave are both expected to play, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Kamara has been dealing with a back injury, while Olave has been fighting through an illness after missing practice earlier in the week.
That’s a timely lift for a Saints team trying to dig out of a 1-4 start. Kamara remains a central piece of the offense because he can hurt defenses on the ground and through the air. Olave gives quarterback Tyler Shough another reliable target as New Orleans looks for more rhythm and consistency on offense.
The Giants are also trending toward having two key starters. Left tackle Andrew Thomas, who has been managing a groin injury, is expected to play, Rapoport reported. Edge rusher Abdul Carter is also expected to suit up after working through a calf injury.
Thomas’ presence would help steady New York’s protection up front, while Carter adds another weapon to the pass rush against a Saints offense that has struggled with turnovers. The Giants had already gotten encouraging signs on Thomas ahead of their matchup with Washington.
Neither team has officially locked in its full game-day roster yet. Final inactive lists will be announced before kickoff.
For New Orleans, getting Kamara and Olave on the field matters even more with the club coming off three straight losses. New York, meanwhile, is expected to have Thomas and Carter available as it tries to take advantage of playing at home.
In Other News...
Kellen Moore Enters A Saints Game He Cant Afford To Mismanage
The Saints head into Week 6 against the Giants carrying far more than a 1-4 record, and the scrutiny around Kellen Moore has already reached the point where every decision feels magnified. With New Orleans struggling on both sides of the ball, the focus is no longer just on getting back in the win column. It is on whether Moore can put together a plan that looks organized, adaptable and worthy of a team that expected more than this kind of start.
Gayle Bensons public frustration only sharpened the spotlight, since the message around the building has been hard to miss: this level of performance cannot continue without consequences. So the matchup with New York comes with more than standard early-season urgency. It is a chance for Moore to show that his offense can function, his staff can adjust and the Saints can look like a team with a clear direction instead of one searching for answers week to week. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Backfield Shift Puts Cam Skattebo Under Pressure In Week 6
The Giants are making a notable backfield adjustment heading into Week 6 after Cam Skattebos ball-security issues became too big to ignore. ESPNs Jordan Raanan reported that New York plans to reshuffle its running back rotation, a response to Skattebos multiple fumbles this season and the critical one he put on the ground in Week 5 against Washington, a mistake that nearly swung the game the wrong way.
For New Orleans, the matchup now comes with a little extra intrigue because Najee Harris is expected to take on a larger role while Skattebos snap share is trimmed but not erased. The Saints will still have to prepare for both backs, yet the more pressing question is whether New Yorks change can steady the offense or simply shift the pressure somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Saints QB Situation Just Got More Concerning Before Giants Game
The Saints are heading into their Giants matchup with another layer of uncertainty at quarterback, and it circles back to Tyler Shoughs health. Shough has been dealing with a left hand injury picked up in the loss to Atlanta, but he has stayed on the field and is expected to keep playing with protective measures in place as New Orleans tries to steady its offense.
The issue is less about availability than durability, because this is not a minor nuisance that disappears quickly. The team has not publicly confirmed the injury, but it is expected to take weeks to heal, which leaves the Saints managing a quarterback situation that already feels more fragile than they would like this early in the week. [Read more 🡒]