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Terron Armstead has all the talent in the world, and he’s so close to putting it all together. Armstead earned recognition as a Pro Bowler in each of the last two years, along with second-team All-Pro status in 2018. But he still hasn’t strung together 16 healthy games in a single season. The 28-year-old came close in 2019 (starting all 15 games he played), but a late-season high-ankle sprain tripped him up. It was the first time he’d appeared in more than 10 games since 2015.
Great as he’s been when healthy, the Saints haven’t really come up with even a short-term solution for when Armstead is out. Their go-to answer has been to slide starting left guard Andrus Peat over to tackle, his college position, calling up a backup like Senio Kelmete or Nick Easton in Peat’s place.
When Armstead missed last year’s Thanksgiving Day game with the Atlanta Falcons — when Peat was also out with an injury — the Saints were forced to put career guard Patrick Omameh at left tackle. Thankfully, Omameh was up to the occasion, and the Falcons defensive line wasn’t talented enough to take advantage of the mismatch.
One injury shouldn’t affect two positions like this, and it looks like the Saints might have finally taken action against it. That’s where former Baltimore Ravens backup James Hurst steps in. Even though he’s suspended the first four weeks with a performance-enhancing substances violation, he might be the best option the Saints have for the next twelve weeks and the playoffs.
Hurst has the pedigree to give the Saints confidence that he can hold down the left tackle spot, whether in a pinch or for a couple of weeks. He’s started nearly as many games at left tackle (16) as at left guard (19) in the NFL, and has a background lining up out on the edge with 48 starts in that alignment at North Carolina. He earned All-ACC honors three years in college, twice making the conference’s first-team list. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, with 33 3/4-inch arms, he fits the prototype teams look for.
Now, sure: the Ravens valued his versatility enough to move him all over the line, and the Saints should, too. If Hurst doesn’t cut the mustard in training camp at left tackle, he could try out as a backup at other spots much like Easton did last year. Initially signed as a center, the Saints quickly moved Easton to guard full-time after comparing him against then-rookie Erik McCoy, and reserves like Cameron Tom and Will Clapp.
But you have to like Hurst’s chances. The fact that he has started nearly a full season at left tackle in the NFL already (totaling more than 3,200 snaps in his career, at different spots) is significant. And he’s clearly the most qualified of his competition, which includes Omameh, second-year pros like Ethan Greenidge, Derrick Kelly, and a few undrafted rookies in Utah’s Darrin Paulo and Oregon’s Calvin Throckmorton. This is a roster battle Hurst should win.
In a year with such high stakes and maybe Drew Brees’ last shot at a second Super Bowl on the line, the Saints can’t afford any chances. Adding Hurst now gives them greater insurance in case injuries hit the starting lineup again. And his veteran presence should be helpful once training camp gets here, considering the shortened offseason. Hopefully things shake out so that he’ll be in position to help the team when they call his number.
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