Tag: Kendre Miller

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Darren Rizzi short on details in postgame injury report

New Orleans Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi was short on details for injuries to Jaylan Ford, Kendre Miller, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling after Sunday’s game:

The New Orleans Saints picked up some additional injuries during their Week 17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. During his media availability postgame, interim head coach Darren Rizzi spoke about the three injuries, and what they were for each player.

However, he was definitely short on details at this time, providing minimal context for each one at the moment likely due to evaluations still being ongoing.

Regarding the injuries, Rizzi said: “Unfortunately suffered a couple injuries in the game. Kendre Miller, as you know, went out with a concussion. (Marquez Valdes-Scantling) went out there at the end, he’s getting checked on, really I think it was a re-aggravation of the same (chest) injury he had last week, we’ll see what happens. Jaylan Ford got a lower leg injury there on that punt cover, so we’ll kind of see where he is at.”

Ultimately the details are limited at the moment as players receive their evaluations, so we will see in the coming days who is ready to go for the Week 18 finale and who is unable to suit up.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Injury update: Kendre Miller (concussion) ruled out vs. Raiders

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller is questionable to return to Week 17’s Raiders game after entering concussion protocol:

The New Orleans Saints may be down another skills position player, as running back Kendre Miller is being evaluated for a concussion after hard contact. He was removed from the game, went to the injury tent, and ultimately went back to the locker room to be evaluated.

The Saints now have two running backs left healthy on the roster, Jamaal Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. They will have to make do with an extremely depleted group of running backs and wide receivers for the remaining game and a half this season, as they continue to try and overcome this deficit. Miller has struggled immensely with injuries to this point in his career, so we will see how the results of the evaluation come back and if he did sustain a concussion.

Update: The Saints announced that Miller’s status was downgraded and he will not return to this game. It’ll be all Edwards-Helaire and Williams through the second half.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

WATCH: Saints use a trick play for their first points of Week 17

From Kendre Miller to Spencer Rattler to Foster Moreau. The Saints got tricky to score their first touchdown against the Raiders:


The New Orleans Saints got on the board early against Las Vegas, and they got creative in the process.

Klint Kubiak doesn’t dig into the trick bag often, but they have done it twice in the last three weeks. Both times they went into that section of the playbook the result was a touchdown.

In the first play of the second quarter, Spencer Rattler tossed the ball to Kendre Miller and gave the look of a generic run play. As Las Vegas sold out for the run, Miller threw the ball backwards to Rattler who found Foster Moreau in the end zone.

This is a role reversal of the last time New Orleans tried trickery. Rattler passed the ball to Cedrick Wilson who then threw the ball to Alvin Kamara for a touchdown score against the Washington Commanders.

Ironically, both of those plays resulted in the first points of the game for the Saints.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

What role will Clyde Edwards-Helaire have in Saints debut?

What does Jordan Mims being inactive mean for Clyde Edwards-Helaire?

Clyde Edwards-Helaire will have the opportunity to play in front of his hometown crowd. It’s the former LSU Tiger’s first game with the New Orleans Saints, and he could have a clear cut role versus the Las Vegas Raiders.

Due to Alvin Kamara’s injury, the Saints rolled out Kendre Miller, Jordan Mims, and Jamaal Williams against the Green Bay Packers. This week, Mims is inactive and Edwards-Helaire is taking his place. Does this mean he will take on Mims’ role as well?

If that’s the case, what would that look like? Mims was prominently featured on Monday Night Football because the Saints were frequently in passing situations. Edwards-Helaire has a skillset that would allow him to excel in this aspect. That’s a good starting point.

NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill expects Edwards-Helaire to have a real role. This suggests the Saints will also heavily use the new addition as a rushing threat next to Miller. Those two players will likely lead the charge for the Saints rushing attack in Week 17.

No quit in 5-10 Saints: ‘There’s a lot of guys who are playing for something’

The Saints are eliminated from playoff contention, but Darren Rizzi makes it clear ‘there’s a lot of guys who are playing for something’

The New Orleans Saints have no shot of making the playoffs, so some may feel the team has nothing to play for. But interim head coach Darren Rizzi pushed back on that narrative.

You may see that as something he has to do. You wouldn’t be wrong, but Rizzi isn’t being facetious when he says, “There’s a lot of guys who are playing for something.”

Spencer Rattler, Kendre Miller, Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry are some of the best examples of players who are playing for something to close out the season.

Those are the types of players Rizzi described: “We have a lot of younger players playing right now.” At this point, the Saints are looking, “To be able to evaluate those guys from the quarterback right on through the rest of the positions.”

Rattler is looking to make a mark that he can still be viewed as a developmental quarterback. Can Miller be the compliment the Saints need to Kamara and possibly take the reigns in the future? Are Taylor and McKinstry the young cornerbacks who will lead New Orleans to a new era?

Next year’s coach will look at these games to determine how he wants to construct next year’s roster. Many players don’t have the luxury of mailing it in despite the playoffs being out of reach.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

How did Saints use their running backs in Alvin Kamara’s absence?

An early scoring deficit made the Saints call an audible on which running back to lean on in Week 16. What’s the plan moving forward?

Darren Rizzi told reporters the New Orleans Saints would take a committee approach to replacing Alvin Kamara. Rizzi laid out the plan was to use Kendre Miller, Jordan Mims and Jamaal Williams in the backfield. It seemed to be the plan to use the triumvirate equally, though it had primarily been Miller sharing the backfield with Kamara.

Plans had to change offensively after falling into an early hole against the Green Bay Packers, and that directly impacted the running back room.

“The way the game played out, we dug such a hole. We had a plan for Kendre coming in, and we got into a lot of the two minute drill,” Rizzi responded when questioned about Miller’s usage. He added, “That’s why you saw more of Mims.”

That’s reflective when looking at how the two running backs were used. Miller had the most carries and touches, but Mims was right behind him in usage. Miller’s 10 touches were comprised of eight rushes, while Mims caught the ball on five of his nine touches of the day.

Surprisingly, Williams was the runner with the least amount of activity between the three. It’s unclear if that is connected to the scoring deficit. It is clear Jordan Mims is viewed as the preferred receiving back of the trio.

New Orleans shouldn’t get into an early hole versus the Raiders. Therefore, we should get a more accurate vision of how Rizzi wants to use the running back room if Kamara is unable to play next week,

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Fantasy Football: 5 waiver wire running backs to target in Week 17

Trey Benson is among the top running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Congratulations, you’ve made it to your fantasy football championship game!

Either that or you’re taking a consolation bracket very seriously, or you play in a league that has a Week 18 championship game (which is a bad idea). Regardless of why you’re here, we’re happy to have you.

Bryce Young (4.9%) is suddenly fantasy-relevant at quarterback, Jalen McMillan’s (33.1%) stock is through the roof at wide receiver, and Chigoziem Okonkwo (6.4%) has had a great two-week run at tight end. Today, though, we’re taking a look at the running back position.

We’ve put together a quick list of five running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire going into Week 17.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire RB Targets

1. RB Kendre Miller (47.6%): Alvin Kamara is dealing with a groin injury, leaving Miller as the Saints’ primary running back. New Orleans wasn’t able to get anything going against the Packers on Monday, but they’ll have an easier matchup against the Raiders next week.

2. RB Trey Benson (18.1%): James Conner might miss the final two games of the season with a knee injury, leaving Benson as Arizona’s new RB1 (health permitting). Benson missed last week with an ankle injury, so it’s worth taking a look at Michael Carter (0.1%) in case Benson is also held out this week.

3. RB Audric Estime (8.4%): Estime led Denver’s backfield in carries (nine) and rushing yards (48) on Thursday and scored his first NFL touchdown. Broncos coach Sean Payton has hinted that Estime’s workload could increase over the next two weeks.

4. RB Tyjae Spears (48.2%): Spears (14) got more touches than Tony Pollard (12) and he totaled more yards (66 vs. 40) and touchdowns (2 vs. 0). TDs can be fluky, but Spears is worthy of flex consideration.

5. RB Patrick Taylor (33.0%): Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo are all banged up, leaving Patrick Taylor as the 49ers’ de facto RB1. Taylor led the team in carries (eight on Sunday), but Deebo Samuel (five) was also involved. Taylor is worth a look in case Guerendo is sidelined again in Week 17.

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Newly-signed running back won’t make Saints debut vs. Packers

Saints fans will have to wait at least one more week to see Clyde Edwards-Helaire in a black and gold uniform:

Earlier this week, Darren Rizzi gave the game plan to replace Alvin Kamara. He mentioned going to a committee approach and listed Kendre Miller, Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims as the players who we’d see in the backfield for the New Orleans Saints.

Notice anyone missing? Rizzi didn’t mention newly-acquired running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Failing to mention him was the first sign the Saints didn’t plan on bringing Edwards-Helaire up to the active roster this week.

New Orleans isn’t bringing any players up from the practice squad against the Green Bay Packers.

Another mid-season addition, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, sat out a week after being signed. From that point, the receiver has been not only the Saints’ lead receiver in a dire moment of need, he’s also been a bright spot of the Saints offense.

Will Edwards-Helaire follow suit? Miller is likely going to be lead back, and if he stays healthy, he should secure that position. Edwards-Helaire could ascend as high as above Williams. Right now, Edwards-Helaire is likely still familiarizing himself with the playbook.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]