Here’s some positive progress from Payton Turner. The third-year defensive end dislocated two toes in the New Orleans Saints’ season opener, derailing what had been a productive summer for him. Turner didn’t miss a single rep at training camp and was active in all three Saints preseason games. It was a frustrating setback for a player who finally looked ready to step up.
And now he’s on his way back. The Saints designated Turner to return from injured reserve on Friday, opening his 21-day window in which to practice with the team and gain clearance to suit up in games again. It’s too soon for him to play on Sunday against the New York Giants, but it’s a positive development. Hopefully he can make an impact in the final three games down the stretch and, possibly, the playoffs.
The Saints pass rush can use all the help it can get. They’re tied for the third-fewest sacks in the league going into Week 15 (23). Their former sacks leader Trey Hendrickson has more sacks for the Cincinnati Bengals than the entire New Orleans defensive line put together. Getting a spark from Turner in the final weeks would be huge. Cameron Jordan has lost a step and Carl Granderson is their only real force off the edge; rookie draft pick Isaiah Foskey has been in and out of the lineup with a quadriceps injury. Here’s hoping Turner’s arrow keeps trending up and yields real results in the weeks ahead.
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