The Saints’ injury report had plenty of red flags Thursday, but it also delivered the kind of updates New Orleans desperately needed after a rough Monday night.
Tyler Shough moved from limited participation Wednesday to a full practice Thursday, a welcome sign after he took a hit to his left hand in the 45-24 loss to Atlanta. Because the injury is to his non-throwing hand, Shough has already said he expects to play Sunday against the Vikings inside Caesars Superdome. That matters for a Saints team trying to steady itself after a 1-3 start, especially with the offense already dealing with enough uncertainty.
Shough has completed 121 of 180 passes for 1,203 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions through four games. He also took multiple hits against Atlanta and was sacked twice, which only adds to the urgency of keeping him upright this week.
Alvin Kamara also moved in the right direction. He did not practice Wednesday because of a back injury, but he returned Thursday on a limited basis.
Chris Olave, who sat out Wednesday for rest, was listed with a foot injury and practiced limited on Thursday. Barion Brown, who missed Wednesday with a thigh injury, also returned on a limited basis.
Those updates give New Orleans some hope on offense, but the Saints still have to be careful with how they manage Kamara if he’s active Sunday. His value goes well beyond carries, and against a Vikings defense that can pressure the quarterback, he could be especially useful as an outlet underneath. The Saints may need to be selective with his workload rather than piling on touches.
Olave is the name to watch most closely. A foot issue for a receiver whose game is built on separation and burst is never a small matter, and New Orleans needs his explosiveness after the offense came up short against Atlanta.
The more worrisome part of Thursday’s report was on defense. Kaden Elliss remained out with a calf injury, Anfernee Jennings was still sidelined by a knee injury, and Carl Granderson was limited again with an ankle issue. Davon Godchaux, after being a full participant Wednesday, did not practice Thursday because of a groin injury/rest designation.
That leaves the Saints with real questions up front, and that’s a problem against Minnesota. If New Orleans can’t generate pressure with its front seven, it may have to blitz more often, which opens the door for the Vikings downfield.
There were a few encouraging notes on that side too. Safety Mike Reid improved from limited Wednesday to full participation Thursday, while Jaylan Ford and Lorenzo Styles Jr. were full for a second straight day.
Ford and Styles are still on injured reserve for now. Julian Blackmon remained limited with a shoulder injury.
Fourteen players on the injury report is a lot to sort through, but Thursday at least gave the Saints some needed movement in the right direction. Shough is trending well.
Kamara and Brown are back on the field. Olave practiced despite the new foot concern.
The defense, though, is where the alarm bells are still ringing loudest.
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