The Saints got their starting running back back on Saturday, but the roster shuffle that followed came with a fresh setback for a rookie defender.
New Orleans activated Travis Etienne off injured reserve after an encouraging week of practice, putting him in line to return for the first time since Week 3. The move gives the Saints a needed jolt in the backfield, especially after the run game was held under 60 yards in three of the five games Etienne missed.
The Saints brought Etienne in on a big deal this offseason to add more juice to the offense, and he has already shown why. Even with only 30 carries, his three runs of 10 or more yards are just shy of the team lead. That kind of burst has been missing lately, and now it’s back in the mix.
Because New Orleans never filled the roster spot created when Davon Godchaux was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team didn’t need to make a corresponding move to activate Etienne. But Saturday still brought a few other transactions.
Rookie defensive lineman Christen Miller was placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in practice earlier this week. It’s another tough break in a season that has already gone sideways for the 42nd overall pick in this year’s draft. Miller has dealt with multiple injuries during his time with the Saints, appeared in only four of eight games, and played less than a third of the defensive snaps in those outings.
Miller is eligible to return for the Saints’ Week 14 road game against the Carolina Panthers, though there’s also a chance this injury ends his season. NFL teams can activate eight players from injured reserve during the regular season, and with Etienne back, New Orleans has already used six of those returns.
To replace Miller on the roster, the Saints signed practice squad offensive lineman Easton Kilty to the active roster. The extra depth up front became necessary after right tackle Taliese Fuaga suffered a knee injury in practice this week and will miss Sunday’s game.
New Orleans also used the second of its three standard practice squad elevations on kicker Charlie Smyth.
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