Cam Jordan’s return gives the Saints a badly needed boost at exactly the right moment.
After a month of waiting, New Orleans finally got the injury update fans had been hoping for: neither Jordan nor Alvin Kamara carries an injury designation on the report, clearing the way for both to take the field against the Baltimore Ravens. For Saints fans, that means the first real chance this season to see two of the team’s biggest names back in action.
The signs pointed here for a while. Jordan had said he was feeling much better physically after missing a month, and Kamara looked like himself enough that it was a surprise he never made it back for the opener. But the wait ended without either player returning then, and Week 1 made it clear why their presence matters.
New Orleans needs help in two spots that were exposed right away: the run game and the pass rush. Both were issues last week, and both need to be sharper in Week 2.
Jordan’s absence was especially noticeable. The Saints’ pass rush never really settled in, and that’s the sort of thing that happens when one of your top two rushers is missing. Jordan had 10.5 sacks a year ago, and Brandon Staley’s preseason comments about Jordan looking better than ever before the injury only add to the expectation that he can produce again.
Jared Goff had far too comfortable a day last week. The Saints did flash pressure here and there, but it never felt like anything that truly bothered him for long stretches. That has to change, and Jordan’s return gives the defense a much better shot at fixing it.
The matchup with Baltimore puts even more weight on Jordan’s presence. The Ravens lean heavily on the ground game, and Jordan has long made a point of emphasizing his ability to hold up against the run. He may not have the athleticism to chase Lamar Jackson down in space, but he can still do important work by staying disciplined in his pass rush lane and helping create pressure for someone else to finish.
His biggest impact may come against Derrick Henry. Jordan has been one of the Saints’ most reliable run stoppers, and this is the kind of game where that matters most.
Henry is dangerous both inside and on the perimeter because of his rare mix of size and speed, which means New Orleans will naturally need help in the middle. The one-on-one matchup, though, tilts in Jordan’s favor more than most.
Edge defenders have to get hands on Henry before he builds momentum, and Jordan’s size gives him a real chance to win that battle.
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