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How will the New Orleans Saints adjust to life without starting left tackle Terron Armstead? NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Armstead is out for Thursday night’s game with the Atlanta Falcons after suffering a high-ankle sprain on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, and his recovery is expected to progress on a week-to-week basis. So the Saints could be without him a while longer, which is bad news considering the San Francisco 49ers will visit the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in two weeks.
Fortunately, the Saints don’t lack for options to step in for Armstead. They just aren’t the preferred options. In the past, their go-to move was shifting left guard Andrus Peat over to left tackle (his college position) in Armstead’s absence. But Peat is in the middle of a six-week recovery from surgery on his broken arm, with his own backup (veteran guard Nick Easton) running in his place.
When Armstead exited Sunday’s game with the Panthers, journeyman Patrick Omameh was the initial choice. Omameh has played six years in the NFL for teams including Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Giants, starting full seasons at both left and right guard. That experience made him an easy choice for the Saints to name as their top backup, which is the role he’s filled this season. But he’s never played left tackle for more than a handful of snaps (as he did on Sunday in a pinch), so the Saints could look elsewhere.
It’s the same strategy they took in replacing Peat. Second-year pro Will Clapp was the preferred reserve ahead of Easton in all nine games before he was activated, but the Saints didn’t hesitate to name Easton the starter in Peat’s place ahead of Clapp thanks to his extensive experience at the position.
And there may not be a more-seasoned true left tackle on the team than Ethan Greenidge, a rookie out of Villanova. Greenidge’s collegiate career began with nine starts at left tackle as a true freshman, and he held onto the spot for 43 games (barring three appearances at right tackle as a senior). While Omameh has spent more time playing against pros in the NFL, he hasn’t done it at left tackle, which is where Greenidge might have an edge. Greenidge has been a healthy scratch in all 11 games this year, but much like Easton, could be ready for his call-up.
There’s always the possibility that the Saints flip star right tackle Ryan Ramczyk to the left side. They did just that early during his rookie year, putting Ramczyk at left tackle (where he lined up in college) with longtime right tackle Zach Strief in his accustomed spot, while Armstead was working his way back from an injury. Strief went down with his own injury and forced New Orleans to put Ramczyk at right tackle ahead of schedule, but it worked out well for them.
However, asking Ramczyk to swap sides this late in the season (and for maybe as few as two or three weeks) could do more harm than good. It would require someone else stepping into the lineup on the right side, forcing veteran right guard Larry Warford to work quickly to establish communication with a new face.
One injury to Armstead shouldn’t impact multiple starting spots like that, so the Saints may need to keep a narrow focus on Omameh, Greenidge, and maybe their practice squad candidates — rookies such as Tulane’s John Leglue (who has started college games at all five positions) and Florida State’s Derrick Kelly (who the Saints tried out at right tackle during their preseason games).
For a refresher, here’s what the Saints depth chart looks like at tackle, based off the official team roster and where players have lined up this year:
- LT Terron Armstead (injured)
- RT Ryan Ramczyk
- LG/LT Andrus Peat (injured)
- LG/LT Patrick Omameh
- LT Ethan Greenidge (inactive in 11 games)
- OL John Leglue (practice squad)
- RT Derrick Kelly (practice squad)
Who do you think should start in Armstead’s place? Vote in the poll below and make your voice heard.
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