Tag: Alvin Kamara

Saints announce inactive players for Week 18 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Who’s in and out for the Saints season finale versus the Buccaneers? Check the final inactives report of the 2024 season:

The New Orleans Saints go into the season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an expansive injury report. It’s only fitting seeing that it’s been a constant for New Orleans all year long.

Derek Carr was ruled out earlier this week due to a fractured hand. Spencer Rattler will close out the season with his third consecutive start. The young quarterback will do so without a pair of starting offensive linemen yet again.

Kendre Miller was also ruled out earlier this week after being unable to pass concussion protocol. Alvin Kamara was a gametime decision as the Saints tested his functionality after his groin injury. The running backs will be Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jamaal Williams. Chris Olave isn’t playing but he isn’t listed on the inactive list because he’s still on injured reserve.

On the bright side, Marquez Valdes-Scantling will be on the field for Rattler. He exited last week’s game after absorbing a big hit.

Here are the inactive players for Week 18:

New Orleans Saints inactive players

  • QB Derek Carr (Left Hand)
  • RB Alvin Kamara (Groin)
  • RB Kendre Miller (Concussion)
  • LB Pete Werner (Concussion)
  • LB Willie Gay Jr.
  • WR Mason Tipton
  • DT Khristian Boyd

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inactive players

  • C Jamel Dean (Knee)
  • S Antoine Winfield Jr. (Knee)
  • DL C.J. Brewer
  • WR Kameron Johnson
  • G Royce Newman
  • TE Cade Otton
  • OLB Jose Ramirez

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Is Alvin Kamara playing today? Injury updates for Saints RB

Saints running back Alvin Kamara is dealing with a groin injury. Here are the latest updates.

The New Orleans Saints are preparing for their last game of the season and are without many offensive players they began the year with. One of whom, Alvin Kamara, is just 50 yards short of his first career 1,000 yards season.

Kamara has been out since part way through the Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders. There has been hope that he could come back and try for the landmark, but his health has made that hard.

Alvin Kamara injury update

The groin injury that the running back has been dealing with has kept him out of practice the entire time, but he was not ruled out for the final game until Sunday. It had always felt unlikely that he would play and that was ultimately the decision they came to, as first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill.

How long will Alvin Kamara be out?

Since this is the last week of the season, Saints fans will have to wait until next year to see Kamara run the ball again.

Saints RB depth chart

The New Orleans running game has been brutal without Kamara or Taysom Hill. Kendre Miller was expected to see a bulk of carries, but is out from this game and has only run the ball 11 times for 18 yards in the last two weeks.

  • RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
  • RB Jamaal Williams
  • RB Jordan Mims

Saints could go with a surprise pick as their lead RB vs. Buccaneers

Despite being a new addition to the team, injuries may push Clyde Edwards-Helaire into a leading role for the Saints in their season finale:

Injuries are piling up for the New Orleans Saints at running back. Kendre Miller suffered a concussion suffered early in last week’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and was unable to clear concussion protocol before Week 18’s showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Miller’s absence means it will most likely be Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jamaal Williams carrying the load for the New Orleans Saints on the ground, unless Alvin Kamara is able to suit up. That doesn’t seem to be likely right now.

Darren Rizzi has already said Edwards-Helaire will be called up from the practice squad again. What’s fascinating is the new pickup seemed to be ahead of Williams early last week.

Prior to Miller’s injury, Williams didn’t play a snap. It was only 12 plays into the game, but Edwards-Helaire saw five snaps in that time frame. After Miller’s injury, Williams saw 21 snaps compared to Edwards-Helaire’s 20. Jordan Mims has been a healthy scratch and Xazavian Valladay hasn’t been called up from the practice squad.

It was basically an even split, but Williams still saw fewer touches. The injury to Miller that pushed Williams into the lineup should increase the veteran’s role. With another week in the system, however, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Edwards-Helaire be the lead back. That is especially true with a likely scenario being the Saints playing from behind if they can’t keep pace with the high-powered Buccaneers offense.

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Alvin Kamara has one more test to determine status for Week 18

Alvin Kamara is doubtful to play on Sunday, but he’ll go through a a final round of testing on Saturday to determine his status for the Saints’ finale vs. Buccaneers:

The New Orleans Saints may be without Alvin Kamara for their season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The star running back is was listed as doubtful on Friday’s injury report, but interim head coach Darren Rizzi alluded to a final decision being made Saturday.

Kamara was unable to practice at all week while managing a groin injury that’s caused him to miss a few games. The final decision will come based on how Kamara reacts to simulated game situations.

Rizzi told reporters: “Alvin, we’re going to try to put him through some game-like situations in the morning to see if he can operate and function.”

Derek Carr went through the same thing. The Saints put Carr through a simulated game at practice with the same intention. They did that earlier in the week and came to the conclusion Carr wouldn’t be able to play.

Since Kamara’s injury is to his core groin muscles, it’ll be likely about testing his lateral movement and explosiveness. It’s also important to remember Kamara is a dual threat running back. They’ll have to check his ability to run routes out the backfield as well.

His doubtful designation would suggest seeing him on the field is a long shot. Confirmation should be soon on Saturday afternoon.

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Spencer Rattler looking for redemption vs. Buccaneers

Spencer Rattler’s first and last starts are against the Buccaneers. Hopefully, this full-circle moment doesn’t end the way it started:

Spencer Rattler’s first start came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and his last start will come against them, too. Hopefully for the New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback this full circle moment doesn’t end the way it started.

As has been the case for most of his starts, Rattler is without critical weapons and reliable offensive linemen. Rattler played without Chris Olave, Erik McCoy and Lucas Patrick in the first game and will do so again. He could also be without Alvin Kamara this time. Instead of Rashid Shaheed as Rattler’s deep threat, he has Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Essentially, the rookie quarterback is stepping into the same situation. The thing that has to be different is him. It’s Rattler’s last attempt to put together a complete game. He’s put together good halves, but hasn’t sustained it for four quarters. We saw that same pattern repeat just last week against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The last time Rattler played against the Bucs, the Saints lost 51-27 and he he went 22-of-40 as a passer, gaining 243 yards but throwing two interceptions against a single touchdown, taking five sacks along the way (while rushing four times for 27 yards). He also had a fumble.

Rattler will need to do a better job of placing his passes more precisely after that got him in trouble last week. He’ll also have to use his legs more. Tampa Bay flared their defensive ends out in the last matchup to stop him from rolling outside the pocket, but Rattler will need to use his legs in some capacity on Sunday to navigate through what will be an intense pass rush. Seeing some real improvement would do a lot to build positive momentum for a team that needs it before we shift into the offseason.

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Alvin Kamara doubtful, 5 Saints questionable on final injury report of 2024 season

The New Orleans Saints shared their final injury report of the 2024 season. Alvin Kamara is doubtful for Sunday, and five more players are questionable:

The New Orleans Saints shared their final injury report of the 2024 season, but it doesn’t contain much good news before kickoff with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Star running back Alvin Kamara (groin) is doubtful for Sunday, and five more players are questionable. Two others have already been ruled out.

Neither starting quarterback Derek Carr (left hand) nor running backup Kendre Miller (concussion) will play in the regular season finale. Kamara will have a workout on Saturday to determine whether he can travel with the team and dress out to chase his first 1,000-yard season (he’s already up to a career-high 950 rushing yards), but the doubtful tag suggests he’s a long shot to play.

As for the questionable group? That includes defensive end Payton Turner (ankle), linebackers Pete Werner (concussion) and Willie Gay Jr. (shoulder) as well as tight end Juwan Johnson (knee) and wide receiver Chris Olave (head). We’ll be watching to see if they can go this week.

For their part, the Buccaneers preemptively ruled out cornerback Jamel Dean (knee) and safety Antoine Winfield (knee). Tight end Cade Otton (knee) is doubtful to play, and two more are questionable between defensive lineman William Gholston (knee) and wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring). Here’s the final injury report from both teams:

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NFL Week 18 broadcast map: Will your station carry Saints vs. Buccaneers?

The Saints game was shown in only local markets last week, but their pivotal matchup with the Buccaneers will draw a bigger crowd:

This week’s pivotal contest between the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will certainly find its way into more homes than last week’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

If you weren’t in the local area or states neighboring Louisiana, the Week 17 Saints-Raiders game wasn’t aired locally. Saints and Buccaneers, however, will be broadcast with much greater range.

The divisional showdown is being aired locally in much of South Florida and Louisiana, and it’s the FOX early game on the entire West Coast and much of the Northeast, per 506 Sports.

Alvin Kamara could return in pursuit of reaching 1,000 rushing yards. Baker Mayfield is trying to lead the Buccaneers to the playoffs for the second time. There are some things to be interested by in this game. That could be one of the factors leading to the increased range of the season finale.

Instead of New Orleans, it’ll be the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts who are isolated to their local areas. Kickoff is set for Noon CT/1 p.m. ET from Raymond James Stadium. Areas marked in red on this map will be showing the Saints for the last time this season:

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Buccaneers rookie RB drawing comparisons to Saints superstar

Bucky Irving’s rookie season with the Buccaneers has put him in exclusive company. It’s just him and Alvin Kamara in this key category:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving has gotten off to a strong start to his career. In his first season in the NFL, Irving has joined exclusive company. He and New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara are the only running backs to reach 1,400 scrimmage yards on less than 250 touches as a rookie.

This is a great display of their explosiveness and dual-threat ability. Kamara’s rookie season was only 16 games, so this is a good point to compare stats and usage.

Irving has more overall touches and is used as a runner more frequently than Kamara was as a rookie. On the other hand, Kamara’s receiving production far outweighs the rookie’s.

The ability to do both is what connects the two, and Irving told Bucs media Kamara was “a guy I always looked up to” and noted Kamara’s receiving ability.

To take the connection a step further, Irving revealed Kamara reached out to him in college to tell the young player he liked his game.

Irving is coming off his most total yards in a game last week. This week, the Saints are tasked with trying to stop Irving much better than they did last time. He had his first game with 100-plus scrimmage yards this season against the Saints in Week 6. Will he do it again in Week 18?

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These NFL writers aren’t out on Spencer Rattler just yet, despite 0-6 record

These Bleacher Report writers still see potential for development in Spencer Rattler, despite a winless start to his career with the Saints:

Spencer Rattler has yet to win a game as a starter, but not everyone is pessimistic about him. Bleacher Report’s NFL staff believes Rattler “has the tools to be a high-end backup quarterback.”

That’s a step down from auditioning to be the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback of the future, but Rattler becoming a high-end backup would likely give him a chance to start again somewhere, eventually.

Bleacher Report took in account Rattler was performing without Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara. He was also down Rashid Shaheed and Erik McCoy. Darren Rizzi acknowledged the lack of assistance for the young quarterback after losing to the Las Vegas Raiders. Still, he’s now 0-6 as a starter.

With the odds stacked against him, the writers believe Rattler has “shown enough flashes” to still possess developmental potential.

There’s been two things clear from Rattler’s rookie season. He’s talented, but there’s work to do.  That’s exactly where a quarterback picked in the fifth round is expected to be after his rookie season.

The Green Bay Packers game was a great example of this. He made some really impressive throws and paired it with interceptions. It was a two-play sequence in which Rattler threw an impressive pass to Dante Pettis. The very next play was an interception.

There’s been good and bad, and when you take away the scoreboard, there’s reasons to still be optimistic about what Rattler could be. He has time to figure these things out.

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Saints announce inactive players for Week 17 vs. Las Vegas Raiders

New Orleans Saints inactive players look similar, but the loss of two offensive linemen could hurt Spencer Rattler

With Derek Carr out for another week with a fractured hand, Spencer Rattler will be the New Orleans Saints starting quarterback once again. His flashes against the Green Bay Packers were outweighed by bigger mistakes.

As New Orleans takes on the Las Vegas Raiders, the rookie will walk into a similar situation. Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave are out once again. This time, however, Erik McCoy and Lucas Patrick will join them on the sidelines.

Pressure was a catalyst for some of Rattler’s struggles, so being down two offensive linemen could make things worse.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling was questionable leading up to the game due to a chest injury. His absence was another huge detriment to the passing game a week ago. Nathan Shepherd was also with an eye injury suffered right before last week’s contest.

The Raiders escaped the injury bug. Guard Jordan Meredith was the only player with any injury designation for the road team.

Here are the inactive players for Week 17:

New Orleans Saints inactive players

  • QB Derek Carr (Left Hand)
  • RB Alvin Kamara (Groin)
  • RB Jordan Mims
  • LB Anfernee Orji
  • WR Mason Tipton
  • DT John Ridgeway III
  • DT Khristian Boyd

Las Vegas Raiders inactive players

  • G Jordan Meredith (Ankle)
  • TBD