Tag: knee

Saints land a top-flight right tackle in this ESPN mock draft

2024 NFL draft: ESPN projects Saints to pick Alabama right tackle JC Latham

It’s easy to see the New Orleans Saints picking an offensive lineman early in the 2024 NFL draft — their blocking took a big step back in recent years, and the future for both of the starting tackle spots is uncertain between Trevor Penning’s lack of development on the left side and Ryan Ramczyk’s injury history on the right.

But the question is going to be: which offensive lineman is right for New Orleans? Penning’s too-slow growth makes another project seem worrisome. Ideally the Saints could find a young, pro-ready player who can step in for Ramczyk and hold down one side of the line for years to come. The trouble is there’s a very narrow list of prospects who meet that description.

One such name to know: JC Latham. The Alabama Crimson Tide right tackle went to the Saints in the latest 2024 mock draft from ESPN’s Jordan Reid. Latham, who turns 21 in February, has more career snaps played in pass protection (1,016) than other offensive linemen in this draft class have totaled on both run and pass plays. Here’s why Reid says he’s a fit:

“The Saints have historically shown commitment to the trenches in the early rounds, and considering that Trevor Penning hasn’t lived up to his first-round billing and Ryan Ramczyk battled knee injuries this season, offensive tackle should be a high priority in New Orleans. Latham is a massive 6-foot-5, 350-pound player with power at the point of attack and good quickness. He is a dominant run blocker, able to take away defenders quickly once he gets his hands on them. If he lands in a scheme that prioritizes downhill running, Latham has the potential to be a reliable starter.”

Latham certainly looks like New Orleans’ type, and his experience at a top-tier college program suggests he won’t need as much help acclimating to life in the NFL as Penning or other players the Saints have drafted from smaller schools. One concern about Latham is the health of his left knee; he needed help leaving the field after a collision on the final play in the Rose Bowl left him with an injury. That’s something we may not get an update on until later in the pre-draft process, so stay tuned.

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Saints linebacker Nephi Sewell suffered season-ending ACL injury

This is a tough break for Nephi Sewell. The New Orleans Saints linebacker suffered a season-ending ACL injury during Week 17’s big road win:

This is a tough break for Nephi Sewell. The New Orleans Saints linebacker suffered a season-ending ACL injury during Week 17’s big road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sewell’s knee buckled on a non-contact play as he ran with a receiver in coverage on Alontae Taylor’s interception of Baker Mayfield, and he needed assistance leaving the field on a trainer’s cart. Saints head coach Dennis Allen confirmed the bad news on Monday when meeting with local media.

Sewell, 25, had played himself into a real role defensively as the top backup for middle linebacker Demario Davis. A former undrafted free agent out of Utah and one of three brothers in the NFL (along with Detroit Lions right tackle Penei Sewell and Chicago Bears linebacker Noah Sewell), he earned reps on defense by playing well on special teams as a rookie in 2022. This season he ranked fifth on the team in snaps played in the kicking game (266).

But the timing of this injury couldn’t be worse. It could take as many as nine months for Sewell to recover functionality in his knee, and it’ll take longer than that for him to regain trust in the surgically-repaired joint, as is the case for every athlete who experiences this type of injury. That’s going to cost him valuable snaps at practice throughout the offseason program and likely the beginning of training camp in July.

Still, Sewell has overcome adversity before, and he has a great support system. He overcame a serious neck injury in his junior year of high school, and he’s taken the hard road to the NFL as an undrafted player who had to earn his snaps. He’s still under contract for 2024 and should return with a good chance to contribute in the fall, but it’s going to be a while before fans see him out on the field goal. Here’s to a full and speedy recovery for him.

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Ryan Ramczyk weighing options with career-threatening injury

Ryan Ramczyk is managing a career-threatening knee injury. All options are on the table, including offseason surgery and an early retirement:

Ryan Ramczyk’s injured knee isn’t getting better. The New Orleans Saints right tackle spoke with reporters on Thursday and shared some insight on the uncertainty he’s facing after missing the last two games (and likely a third this week). All options are on the table. That includes offseason surgery and, worryingly, an early retirement.

The 29-year-old has been managing cartilage loss in his knee for years. He wasn’t able to play in seven games during the 2021 season because of it and was only able to suit up last season after receiving regular injections. This year he’s been given a rest day to start each week’s practice. But time and wear and tear have taken its toll. It’s a really tough break for a player who was so durable to start his career, having missed just one start in his first four years (when he and the rest of the starters were pulled from the meaningless 2018 season finale) before signing a landmark contract extension.

For now Ramczyk is trying to remain patient and follow doctor’s orders. He isn’t expected to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday and is considered week-to-week while resting and receiving treatment, so he at least has a shot at dressing out for the regular-season finale with the Atlanta Falcons.

But the future is unclear. Ramczyk’s career could be over. There’s a possibility he’ll have lifelong knee issues because of this injury. If so, that’s something he’s already accepted, telling ESPN’s Katherine Terrell that “it’s what we sign up for. It’s part of the game, the passion we have to put ourselves through this. It’s worth it.”

What happens if Ramczyk is forced into retirement? Right now, he’s got a salary cap hit counting for north of $27 million in 2024. If the Saints release him outright they would take on more than $32 million in dead money. Their most realistic path forward would be treating his retirement just like they did Drew Brees’ and Malcolm Jenkins’: reducing Ramczyk’s $17 million base salary to the veteran minimum (in his case, $1.21 million) and processing his release as a post-June 1 cut, spreading out the remaining payments from his signing bonus over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

That would ultimately result in about $16.3 million in dead money for each of those years, saving $15.79 million against the cap in 2024. But it’s by no means a simple solution. The Saints would have to carry Ramczyk’s $32 million dead-money figure against the salary cap through the offseason up until June 2, limiting the moves they could make in free agency ahead of the draft.

Another possibility: asking Ramczyk to return some of his signing bonus. It’s a dirty move for someone who’s already experiencing something as difficult as the premature end of his playing career, but the NFL can be a cold business. There’s precedent for it with players like former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland returning most of his signing bonus after a series of concussions, but some teams have taken players to arbitration over it. An arbitrator ruled that former Detroit Lions superstar Barry Sanders had to do just that, and another ex-Lions great, Calvin Johnson, publicly feuded with the team over a similar situation. None of those cases dealt with as much money as what sits between the Saints and Ramczyk. At the same time, an arbitrator may not rule in the team’s favor, making it a fruitless endeavor.

It’s unfortunate that this is what things have come to. Hopefully Ramczyk and the doctors he’s meeting with in the spring can find a way to better manage his knee and help him continue to play at a high level. But there’s a deadline. Ramczyk’s base salary includes $6.5 million that will become guaranteed on March 15 (the third day of free agency), and the Saints must reach salary cap compliance sooner than that, by March 13 (the start of the new league year). This won’t be a decision anyone involved can put off until the eleventh hour.

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Report: Saints don’t expect right tackle Ryan Ramczyk (knee) to play vs. Giants

NOF’s Nick Underhill reports that the Saints don’t expect right tackle Ryan Ramczyk (knee) to be in the lineup against the Giants and Kayvon Thibodeaux:

This is a big loss. The New Orleans Saints are not expected to have starting right tackle Ryan Ramczyk (knee) in the lineup on Sunday against the New York Giants, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. Ramczyk was limited in practice this week with a knee injury and was officially listed as questionable for Week 15’s game but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be able to play.

That’s big news for Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Giants defensive end has primarily rushed off the left side of the defensive line in recent weeks (on 71% of his pass rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus charting), going up against right tackles, which puts him on a collision course with Ramczyk’s backup. The Saints brought up Cameron Erving from the practice squad for this game in anticipation of Ramczyk’s absence.

Erving has held up well before. The Saints asked him to fill in for Ramczyk earlier this season against the Jacksonville Jaguars and while Erving didn’t match up with Jaguars sacks leader Josh Allen he did hold his own against Travon Walker and Dawuane Smoot. Thibodeaux is a unique challenge, though. He’s bagged 11.5 sacks this year after earning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year votes last season. It’s a lot to ask Erving to block him one-on-one. Let’s see what the Saints’ plan is for slowing him down.

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Dennis Allen says DT Malcolm Roach may need knee surgery after injury

Dennis Allen says defensive tackle Malcolm Roach may need knee surgery after suffering an injury late against the Lions:

This could be a key loss for the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Dennis Allen said Monday that defensive tackle Malcolm Roach is exploring his options after suffering a knee injury that may require surgery in Sunday’s loss tot he Detroit Lions. With just five games left on the schedule, this could be a season-ending injury for Roach.

And that would be a crushing blow for him. Roach, 25, is headed for free agency in the spring and figures to cash in after setting new career-highs in tackles (38), assists (25), tackles for loss (3), and passes defensed (3).

Hopefully a second opinion and further evaluation leaves Roach in a more positive position. He’s brought a lot of energy to the rotation and is an active player in the trenches, ranking third on the team with 10 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage despite playing the fewest snaps (290) at defensive tackle behind Nathan Shepherd (415), Bryan Brsee and Khalen Saunders (366).

If he’s going to be sidelined, look for the Saints to bring up preseason standout Jack Heflin from their practice squad or take a look at outside free agents to reinforce the position group. They’ve been gashed on the ground this season and may need more upgrades at defensive tackle regardless of injuries.

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Report: Saints ‘played it safe’ with Michael Thomas knee injury

Report: Saints ‘played it safe’ with Michael Thomas, wide receiver avoided serious knee injury vs. Vikings

Here’s some good news: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas avoided a serious knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, who adds that the Saints chose to “play it safe” with Thomas and keep him on the sidelines after evaluating him. That makes sense given his injury history, the state of the game, and a bye week promising extra rest coming up next.

And fewer snaps for Thomas meant more opportunities for rookie wideout A.T. Perry, who responded appropriately. Perry’s first NFL reception gained 23 yards and converted a first down. His second catch scored a 13-yard touchdown. He’s doing everything he can to earn the trust of his quarterbacks and coaches, even if he’s got room to improve; Perry dropped a pass late in the game when a Vikings defender hit him at the catch point.

But let’s keep the focus on Thomas. He lost years of his prime to a series of complicated ankle injuries, but he’s already played his most snaps (490) since his record-setting 2019 campaign (942). He may not be the superstar receiver he once was, but he’s been an important player for the Saints this season and the offense is better with him in the lineup. It’s early but signs point to Thomas being available when the Saints regroup after their bye week.

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Saints rule out Michael Thomas (knee) after halftime vs. Vikings

The Saints downgraded Michael Thomas (knee) after halftime, saying he would not return against the Vikings:

Things went from bad to worse for the New Orleans Saints. After initially announcing he was questionable to return to Week 10’s game with the Minnesota Vikings due to a knee injury, the team downgraded Michael Thomas and ruled out the wide receiver for the remainder of the game.

The offense could really use him. They struggled to get the other receivers going through the first half but they’ll have to go the rest of the way without him. Rookie draft pick A.T. Perry was the next man up at receiver behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Let’s see what he can do.

Thomas hasn’t dealt with any injury issues this year after a series of ankle problems interrupted his career, so hopefully this isn’t a significant ailment. It’s possible the Saints chose to approach the situation conservatively given the large deficit with the bye week up next. We’ll look out for an update on his status.

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Saints say Michael Thomas (knee) questionable to return vs. Vikings

The New Orleans Saints say wide receiver Michael Thomas is questionable to return against the Minnesota Vikings with a knee injury:

The New Orleans Saints announced at the end of the first quarter that wide receiver Michael Thomas would be questionable to return against the Minnesota Vikings with a knee injury.

He received an extended look from team medical staff in the blue sideline tent and was spotted on the bench with his position coach Kodi Burns reviewing plays on a tablet. He was wearing a ball cap, not a helmet, during their first possession in the second quarter.

Thomas exiting did open an opportunity for rookie draft pick A.T. Perry, who caught his first NFL reception to gain 23 yards. But Perry was targeted later and lost his footing on the U.S. Bank Stadium turf, leading to an incomplete pass. He needs more experience.

Update: The Saints announced after halftime that Thomas would not return, having ruled him out for the rest of the game.

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Report: Trevor Lawrence ‘day-to-day’ with knee injury, hopes to play vs. Saints

NFL Network reports Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is ‘day-to-day’ with a knee injury, but he hopes to play against the Saints on Thursday:

Here’s something to monitor: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is ‘day-to-day’ with a knee injury suffered in Sunday’s blowout win over the Indianapolis Colts, and that he’s undergoing an MRI to determine the severity of his injury.

But the Jaguars hope Lawrence will be able to play against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday despite it being such a short turnaround. They didn’t let off the gas against the Colts — Lawrence was injured on a rollout pass attempt late in their 37-20 victory — and it sure doesn’t sound like they’ll take a matchup with a vulnerable Saints team lightly. If he’s healthy enough to play, he’ll be on the field.

If Lawrence is unable to play (and that feels unlikely), the Jaguars’ other options include backup quarterback C.J. Beathard and Nathan Rourke on the practice squad. We’ll keep an eye on Lawrence’s progress as the injury report updates later this week.

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Matt LaFleur says Packers LT David Bakhtiari had swelling in knee before Week 2

Matt LaFleur on David Bakhtiari not playing vs. Falcons: “His knee is injured. There was swelling.”

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said swelling in David Bakhtiari’s surgically repaired knee was to blame for his team’s starting left tackle missing Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Bakhtiari was listed as questionable entering the contest and was made inactive for Sunday despite playing in Week 1. LaFleur dismissed the idea that the artificial turf in Atlanta played a factor in Bakhtiari’s availability.

“His knee is injured. There was swelling,” LaFleur said Monday.

LaFleur also said he didn’t think Bakhtiari would have played Sunday had the game been at Lambeau Field.

All offseason and training camp, LaFleur said Bakhtiari’s knee would create a “fluid” situation in which the Packers might have to make late adjustments based on how the knee was feeling day to day.

Swelling has been a problem for Bakhtiari throughout his recovery from a significant knee injury suffered on New Year’s Eve in 2020. Three surgeries and almost three years later, Bakhtiari and the Packerws are still dealing the impact of the injury.

It’s unclear if Bakhtiari will play during Sunday’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field. He hasn’t practiced since Aug. 30.

Rasheed Walker and Yosh Nijman rotated in and out in place of Bakhtiari at left tackle. The Packers are also dealing with a multiple-week injury to left guard Elgton Jenkins, creating moving parts along the offensive line entering Week 3.

In terms of looking ahead, the Packers will practice and put up the first injury report of Week 3 on Wednesday. A final injury report arrives Friday.

Bakhtiari played 30 pass-blocking snaps in Week 1 and did not give up a pressure.