Tag: hamstring

Marshon Lattimore dealing with new hamstring injury after exiting Panthers game

Marshon Lattimore injured his hamstring in Sunday’s win over the Panthers, putting his status against CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys in doubt:

New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore injured his hamstring in Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers, putting his status against CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys in doubt. The good news is that NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports it’s only a minor injury, which lines up with Lattimore’s postgame comments to reporters in the Saints locker room.

“I’m good,” Lattimore had said. “I’m solid.”

We’ll just have to wait and see whether it sidelines him during Week 2. Lattimore pulled up lame and gripping the back of his left leg late against Carolina, but he was evaluated in the blue medical tent on the Saints sideline and stood to watch the rest of the game with his teammates. That suggests it wasn’t a serious injury requiring extensive attention, but we’ll watch for updates on this week’s injury report.

But this was the concern when Lattimore missed so much time during training camp with a hip flexor injury. Soft-tissue ailments like hamstring injuries are most common at the start of training camp when players haven’t been working out as arduously, and he more or less rewound the clock after sitting out most of camp. Hopefully he can return soon.

Lamb did well for himself in the Cowboys’ rout of the Cleveland Browns, totaling 61 receiving yards and another 25 rushing yards on the afternoon. He led the league in receptions (135) last season and signed a hefty four-year, $136 million contract extension with Dallas this summer. If Lattimore can’t play, expect Kool-Aid McKinstry to start in his place and for Paulson Adebo to draw the toughest coverage assignments in the Saints secondary. Alontae Taylor remains the preference in the slot. Rico Payton is also on the 53-man roster and he could see some snaps.

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Saints will take advantage of new injured reserve rules with Kendre Miller

The Saints will take advantage of new injured reserve rules with Kendre Miller. He can return as soon as Week 5’s prime-time game with the Chiefs:

It’s disappointing to see Kendre Miller opening his second season with the New Orleans Saints on injured reserve, but it does mean the team can take advantage of new rules changes to navigate this situation.

First off, Miller can return as soon as Week 5’s prime-time game with the  Kansas City Chiefs, and he won’t count against the 53-man roster limit during that time. In past years teams had to keep injured players on their roster for a full day before putting them on injured reserve while planning to later activate them. Now, teams are allowed to put two injured players on I.R. right out of the gate.

Secondly, the Saints can activate up to eight players from injured reserve during the regular season, and two more can be brought back if they reach the playoffs. Additionally, players can be activated twice from I.R. if they suffer a setback. So there are plenty of options here for Miller. It’s not like the team is shutting him down for the season.

That doesn’t mean this isn’t frustrating for everyone involved. The coaches want to see Miller out there, and he probably wants to back up all that talking he did last summer about replacing Alvin Kamara. Players want to play. We’ll just have to monitor Miller’s progress. It’s unusual that a hamstring injury has kept him out this long without requiring surgery, but these things can be difficult. At this point all he can do is keep his head down and work on his rehab until he’s able to help the team.

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Dennis Allen’s patience with Kendre Miller wearing thin

Dennis Allen again emphasized the impact of Kendre Miller’s hamstring injury. He feels the Saints haven’t learned much about Miller since drafting him:

Kendre Miller sustained a hamstring injury on the first day of New Orleans Saints training camp, and he hasn’t returned to the practice field since the team returned to their Metairie practice facility after a month in Irvine. As more time has passed, Miller’s slow recovery has begun to feel like a breaking point for head coach Dennis Allen.

Throughout training camp, Allen has been measured when speaking about injuries after practice or games. He has avoided big statements and chosen to vocalize that he doesn’t have the full picture on injuries that happened just hours prior.

This didn’t apply to Miller. In the presser immediately following the injury, Allen said, “That’s a player that’s going to have to figure out how to stay healthy. Because it’s hard to make the team when you’re in the training room all the time.”

Calling Miller’s job security into question is significant, seeing as the Saints had a big vision for him coming out of college just a year ago. Allen said that college tape isn’t enough to evaluate from after Wednesday’s practice. He once again made reference to Miller’s lack of NFL experience and how it makes it “hard to make that evaluation” when determining how many running backs to roster.

“I know he’s talented,” Allen said. “But I don’t know if he can learn the system. I don’t know if can pick up the system because I haven’t seen him out there.”

These are fair points, and it appears the frustrations are building. Hamstring injuries can lead to lengthy recoveries but we’re approaching the point where it’s worth asking if Miller should have had surgery back in July. At this stage it feels like the Saints are likeliest to put put Miller on injured reserve at the start of the season and reevaluate him after four games. But if Allen had the authority to do so, you get the sense he might be willing to just move on altogether.

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Kendre Miller injured during Saints’ first training practice

Kendre Miller suffered a hamstring injury at Wednesday’s first training camp practice. The New Orleans Saints running back continues to face setbacks:

The New Orleans Saints always deal with injuries pretty early into the process, and this offseason seems to be no different with injuries to Chase Young and Juwan Johnson during the offseason process or earlier. This trend seems to have continued as well, with second-year running back Kendre Miller suffering a hamstring injury during Wednesday’s training camp practice. According to Katherine Terrell of ESPN, he went into the training tent and did not return once that occurred.

Miller dealt with leg issues all of last season as a rookie. He missed time with a patella sprain, grade one hamstring sprain, and pedal ankle sprain at different points throughout the season. This led to him only playing in eight games during his rookie year, with only 41 rush attempts and 11 times targeted. He was still recovering from a knee injury when the Saints drafted him out of TCU.

Dennis Allen’s take on Miller’s hamstring injury was pointed after practice: “Look, that’s a player that’s going to have to figure out how to stay healthy. Because it’s hard to make the team when you’re in the training room all the time.”

It has been a tough road for Miller to this point in his career, no doubt, and hopefully things turn around and this is not a lingering injury for the short term future. As of right now, the Saints depth chart at running back seems relatively short with this news:

  • Alvin Kamara
  • Kendre Miller (hamstring injury)
  • Jamaal Williams
  • Jordan Mims
  • James Robinson
  • Jacob Kibodi

There are a few options available in free agency as training camp bodies as well if that ends up being a need. Lynn Bowden Jr. and Eno Benjamin are both available and were on the roster last summer, as is Kareem Hunt who was a reported target for the Saints last year. We will see how this plays out, hopefully it is just a minor injury and Miller gets back out there quickly without issue. He can’t afford to miss much time.

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Packers WR Christian Watson to search for answers to hamstring problem this offseason

Christian Watson knows he must figure out the “root” of his hamstring problems and improve his availability for the Packers in 2024.

Every player goes into an offseason wanting to get better, but for Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson, the path to improving is centered on figuring out how to avoid soft-tissue injuries — especially in his hamstring — and stay on the field in 2024.

Watson missed three games to start the season with a hamstring injury suffered before Week 1 and then five more games to end the regular season after re-injuring the same hamstring on a play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 3. As a rookie, a hamstring injury plagued him for over a month and caused him to miss three games.

“I gotta find out what the root of it is. That’s the start and then I’ll be able to formulate a plan around that,” Watson said during Monday’s final locker room availability. “But if I can find out what kind of things can possibly be leading to it, make sure I’m doing the right things in the offseason, doing the right things during OTAs, into training camp, just find ways to make sure I’m doing everything I can to be conscious of it. That’s my number one plan.”

Coach Matt LaFleur said Watson has been working with head athletic trainer Bryan “Flea” Engel to create a plan and execute it this offseason. The goal is for Watson to remain explosive but be more available for the Packers in 2024 and beyond.

“We have a plan, we have a plan in place,” LaFleur said Monday. “I know Flea has been diligent working on that, in terms of going to different places to do all the scans and whatever we need to do. Certainly, Christian is going to be a big part of that process. That’s something we need to figure out. He is an impact player. You see his value when he’s going at full strength, his ability to make plays, explosive plays. We’re better when he’s on the grass.”

Watson scored nine total touchdowns and was a dominant player down the stretch as a rookie. He found the end zone five more times across nine games in 2023, including a three-game stretch before his second injury in which he scored four times.

Getting over the hamstring injuries could allow Watson to become a consistently dominant player for the Packers in 2024. His size and speed help make him a force, both down the field and on manufactured touches. With a full season of availability, Watson could transform into a legitimate No. 1 receiver next season.

“It’s huge. I’m trying to stay in the right spot mentally,” Watson said. “I don’t want to let it consume my life, but everyone says your availability is your best ability, so I’ve got to find a way to stay out there. I think I’m my best when I’m able to find my rhythm, find my groove and continue to build on it. So being out, being back, being out, being back, I don’t think it’s right for anybody, but I definitely know it’s not right for me to play my best ball. I just gotta find a way to be out there and stay out there.”

Watson isn’t yet sure if it’s a strength or flexibility issue. As a lean, explosive, long-striding athlete, he’s hoping to discover the right ways to lessen the stress on the hamstring.

“I don’t necessarily know if it’s a strength thing anywhere. I could be flexibility. I know for a fact that my hamstrings are strong. I know I’m a strong guy, I’m a lean guy. I’ve just got to find ways to take pressure off one spot and let it all work together. That’s what I’m going to figure out.”

Quotes obtained by Packers Wire contributor Paul Bretl were used in this post.

Giants activate pass-catching tight end Darren Waller (hamstring) vs. Saints

The Giants activated pass-catching tight end Darren Waller (hamstring) for Week 15’s game with the Saints. He’s torched Dennis Allen’s defense before:

This could be a problem. The New York Giants will activate tight end Darren Waller (hamstring) from injured reserve and dress him for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, putting one of the league’s best pass-catching tight ends up against a defense that has struggled to defend them.

And Waller has torched Dennis Allen’s squad before. He caught a dozen passes against nine different Saints defenders back in 2020 with the Raiders, gaining 103 yards and scoring a crucial touchdown reception in a win for Las Vegas. He may be slowed by this hamstring issue, but Waller hadn’t lost a step prior to it — he missed five games and still ranks second-best on the Giants’ roster in catches (36) and yards (384).

So he’s going to be a challenging matchup for New Orleans. The Saints have allowed a combined 26 receptions, 329 receiving yards, and 4 touchdown catches to tight ends Cole Kmet, T.J. Hockenson, and Sam LaPorta in recent games. Waller is cut from the same cloth. Hopefully Allen has done a better job preparing his defense this week.

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Vikings won’t activate Justin Jefferson off injured reserve vs. Saints

The Vikings won’t activate Justin Jefferson off injured reserve for Week 10’s game. The Saints caught a big break without the All-Pro suiting up:

Whew: the New Orleans Saints just caught a big break, with the Minnesota Vikings declining to activate wide receiver Justin Jefferson ahead of their Week 10 matchup. Jefferson missed four games with a hamstring injury and returned to practice this week on a limited basis — but he isn’t ready to suit up just yet.

That’s good news for a Saints defense that gave up 10 receptions for 147 yards (plus a 3-yard touchdown run) to Jefferson when he competed with them in London last year. Jefferson is one of the best in the game and his presence, even coming off an injury, would dramatically better Minnesota’s chances of moving the ball and getting into the end zone.

So in his absence they’ll have to rely on receivers like rookie draft pick Jordan Addison, who has caught seven touchdown passes in his first nine games. Minnesota’s receiving corps is led by T.J. Hockenson, whose 60 receptions are more than any other tight end this season. Hockenson’s 547 receiving yards are second only to Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, and the two players are tied for the most first down conversions (31) among their peers. Even if Jefferson isn’t playing, the Saints can’t afford to overlook the Vikings’ weapons and quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who brings his own challenges to the table.

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Paulson Adebo questionable vs. Packers as he deals with hamstring injury

Saints corner Paulson Adebo questionable vs. Packers as he deals with hamstring injury | @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints may be without a key defensive back when they head to Green Bay to take on the Packers this Sunday, as Paulson Adebo deals with a hamstring injury.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen shared that Adebo is nursing a new injury and will be questionable to play this week when talking to the media on Friday. The third-year cornerback has had a nice start to the season, coming down with an interception in the opener.

When it comes to replacing him, the Saints have a couple of options. You could see Alontae Taylor to move out from the slot to the boundary and have someone like Ugo Amadi come into the slot (though he’s dealing with his own injury after hurting his knee Thursday). If they want Taylor to stay in the slot, Isaac Yiadom is likely the player that would see some time. He was seen practicing in that spot Friday. The Saints could also call up Anthony Johnson, Faion Hicks, or Cameron Dantzler from the practice squad if they want more depth on game day.

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Report: Panthers won’t have top CB Jaycee Horn (hamstring) vs. Saints

Report: Panthers won’t have top CB Jaycee Horn (hamstring) vs. Saints | @southexclusives

The bad news keeps coming for the Carolina Panthers. After losing to an Atlanta Falcons team without a functional passing attack by two touchdowns, they learned they’ll be without top cornerback Jaycee Horn. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Horn suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s loss which will sideline him for “multiple weeks” including Week 2’s Monday night game with the New Orleans Saints.

Horn, the son of iconic Saints wideout Joe Horn, has been highly effective when healthy. But injuries have limited him to just 17 of 35 possible games to start his career. He will miss his third game against the Saints in five opportunities. In the two games he did play, he registered an interception in both outings. Coincidentally, the Saints have lost each game Horn has played in.

Fortunately, the Saints have a strong trio of receivers who could take advantage of that void. Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Michael Thomas combined for 18 receptions and 262 yards in Week 1, with Shaheed catching a critical 19-yard touchdown pass in the one-point win. With Horn pre-emptively ruled out, look for Carolina to lean heavier on Donte Jackson, CJ Henderson, and Troy Hill in prime time.

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Report: Rookie Saints RB Kendre Miller (hamstring) OUT vs. Titans in Week 1

Report: Rookie Saints running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) will not play vs. Titans in Week 1 kickoff game

You hate to see this. TheScore’s Jordan Schultz reports that New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller will not play in Sunday’s matchup with the Tennessee Titans — meaning the rookie will have to wait at least another week to make his NFL debut.

Miller hasn’t practiced in two weeks due to a hamstring injury, which appears to be unrelated to the knee issue that sidelined him throughout the summer after turning pro. His breakout 2022 season at TCU ended with a damaged meniscus, but he recovered from that to play in the Saints’ preseason games only for a new hamstring problem to take him out of action.

It’s really unfortunate. Miller has a big opportunity these first three weeks with Alvin Kamara serving an NFL-ordered suspension. Without either of them in the lineup, the Saints are left with Jamaal Williams, Kendre Miller, and Tony Jones Jr. (called up from the practice squad Saturday) on the depth chart going into Week 1’s game against the Titans. Expect some touches for versatile fullback Adam Prentice and a heavy dose of Taysom Hill, who broke out last season as a runner with career highs in carries (96), rushing yards (575), and yards per attempt (6.0). Hill’s 7 touchdown runs last year led the team, and Williams’ 17 scoring runs paced the entire NFL.

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