Tag: Nick Saldiveri

Saints rule out two more starters with injuries vs. Broncos

The Saints ruled out two more starters with injuries against the Broncos, including top cornerback Marshon Lattimore:

Disaster struck the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night when the Denver  Broncos came to town, and their old head coach Sean Payton left no doubt who needed who after his offense climbed up to a 26-3 lead. But that’s not all. The injury bug came back with a vengeance.

First, starting cornerback Paulson Adebo left the field on a trainer’s cart with a vacuum splint immobilizing his right leg. He was quickly ruled out with a knee injury and taken by ambulance to a nearby medical center after having  X-rays taken at the Caesars Superdome.

But two more starters went down in the second half. Left guard Nick Saldiveri, who was filling in for Lucas Patrick, was ruled out with a shoulder injury and replaced by rookie backup Kyle Hergel. Saldiveri didn’t join the team on the sideline after halftime.

After that, the other starting corner, Marshon Lattimore, exited with a hamstring injury. He was examined on the sideline in the blue medical tent but returned to the bench without a helmet, and was also ruled out. First-year draft pick Kool-Aid McKinstry  had gone in to replace Adebo and he was joined by undrafted rookie Rico Payton in  Lattimore’s place.

This team can’t take many more injuries. Only 20 of the 53 players on the active roster have not been listed on the injury report this season. Whatever injury prevention methods the training staff has been trying are not working.

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Saints starting third center in three weeks vs. Chiefs

In the last three weeks, the Saints have started Erik McCoy, Shane Lemieux and now Lucas Patrick at center:

Lucas Patrick was the New Orleans Saints’ starting center in Week 5 against t he Kansas City Chiefs. Through the first month of the season, Patrick has started every game at left guard.

This is Patrick’s first time starting at center but not his first time lining up at the position for the Saints. He filled in for Erik McCoy after McCoy injured his groin against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Saints opted to move him back to left guard the next week against the Atlanta Falcons. Shane Lemieux was signed to the active roster from the practice squad to start at center. Unfortunately, Lemieux suffered an injury that landed him next to McCoy on injured reserve.

Because of this injury, the Saints have turned back to Patrick. Nick Saldiveri will replace Patrick at left guard. Saldiveri is making the first start of his career. Landon Young is filling in for Cesar Ruiz for the second week in a row.

The Saints offensive line has been a mixture of shuffling parts on the interior due to injuries. Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning have started every game this season, on the bright side.

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Saints could play Falcons without all five of last year’s offensive line starters

There’s been turnover along the Saints’ offensive line. Now Cesar Ruiz has a knee injury, and if he can’t go all five of last year’s starters will be out on Sunday:

This is worth watching. Right guard Cesar Ruiz missed Wednesday’s New Orleans Saints practice with what head coach Dennis Allen said was a knee injury. And as Nola.com’s Rod Walker noted, if Ruiz can’t play on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, the Saints will be without all five of their starters from last year’s offensive line.

Center Erik McCoy is going on injured reserve with a groin injury. Last season’s left tackle, Andrus Peat, is currently playing for the Las Vegas Raiders. The left guard will either be Oli Udoh, Landon  Young, or Nick Saldiveri, none of whom played many snaps there on last year’s team. Ruiz’s replacement at right guard would be anyone’s guess. And right tackle Trevor Penning was benched last season after initially playing left tackle.

Some turnover was needed given how poorly the Saints’ offensive line performed a year ago, but this is excessive. Being down one starter is bad enough; that it’s McCoy, the unit’s best player, getting sidelined for six to eight weeks is even worse. Working without Ruiz as well would only exacerbate their problems.

We’ll watch out for updates carefully throughout the week. Ruiz was able to play through his knee issue last Sunday but that may not be the case for him in their next game. Hopefully he’s able to go and do a better job slowing down the Falcons than we saw last week against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Saints starting left guard Lucas Patrick exits Panthers game with toe injury

New Orleans Saints starting left guard Lucas Patrick exited the Panthers game with a toe injury. He won’t return after initially being ruled questionable:

The New Orleans Saints have an offensive line injury in Week 1, with starting left guard Lucas Patrick being removed from the game with a toe injury. He was replaced, intriguingly enough, by Landon Young rather than Nick Saldiveri for the last few drives. Saldiveri opened training camp as the starter but was sidelined for the rest of the summer with an injury of his own.

That could be an interesting subplot to watch in the coming weeks depending on the severity of Patrick’s injury. Patrick was initially questionable to return to the matchup, but the team later downgraded his status and said he would not return.

The offensive line depth for the Saints is definitely a tough spot compared to other positions, as there are quite a few options but not many have a lot of experience at this point. Interior linemen Shane Lemieux and  Kyle Hergel are both on the practice squad and could be called up to the 53-man roster next week if Patrick has to miss extended time.

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Saints rule out four, three more questionable vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints ruled out four players with three more questionable for Sunday’s season-opener against the Carolina Panthers:

The New Orleans Saints released their final injury report ahead of Sunday’s season-opening game with the Carolina Panthers, and at least four players won’t be suiting up while on the mend.

Two rookies and and a pair of veteran backups were preemptively ruled out due to injury — linebacker Jaylan Ford (hamstring) and tight end Dallin Holker (ankle), as well as defensive tackle Khalen Saunders and linebacker D’Marco Jackson (both calf injuries). All four will be watching this one from the sideline.

Additionally, three more Saints players are questionable. Wide receiver A.T. Perry (hand) missed the last two days of practice while linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (back) and left guard Nick Saldiveri (calf) were each limited throughout the week. Expect them to give it a go during pregame warmups on Sunday before the training staff can determine who can play.

There is some good news, though. Star cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip) and starting linebacker Pete Werner (shoulder) are both good to go after practicing fully in recent days. The Saints anticipate all 22 starters dressing out for the season opener.

As for Carolina? Tight ends Ian Thomas (calf) and Tommy Tremble (back/hamstring) won’t play, while backup right tackle Yosuah Nijman (tibia) is questionable. Running back Miles Sanders (finger) and nickel cornerback Troy Hill (heel) are both expected to play while being limited on the Week 1 injury report.

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Four DNP’s listed on first New Orleans Saints injury report of 2024

The New Orleans Saints listed twice as many players as the Carolina Panthers on their first injury report of the 2024 season, but things are trending up for Week 1:

The New Orleans Saints listed twice as many players as the Carolina Panthers on their first injury report of the 2024 season, but things are trending up for Week 1. For one thing, all 22 of their projected starters on offense and defense practiced on Wednesday.

But four players were sidelined for the black and gold. Rookie linebacker Jaylan Ford (hamstring) and first-year tight end Dallin Holker (ankle) were each inactive, as were backup linebacker D’Marco Jackson and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (both calf injuries). Saunders isn’t expected to play this week after getting nicked up late in the preseason.

And the good news is that several key players practiced at least on a limited basis, including cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip) and guard Nick Saldiveri (calf), who each missed most of training camp. Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (back) was also limited in his return to practice. Starting linebacker Pete Werner (shoulder) practiced fully while continuing to receive treatment.

Here’s the initial injury report from both teams for Wednesday, Sept. 4:

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Saints shaking up their offensive line before preseason finale

The Saints are shaking up their offensive line before the preseason finale. Oli Udoh is splitting snaps with Trevor Penning at right tackle:

It’s taken some time, but the New Orleans Saints are shaking up their offensive line before Sunday’s preseason finale with the Tennessee Titans. Olisaemeka Udoh is splitting snaps with Trevor Penning at right tackle, and rookie standout Kyle Hergel is getting looks on the first-team lineup at left guard.

Change needed to happen, but some of this is due to injuries. Nick Saldiveri hasn’t been able to practice since July 29 which opened a hole at left guard. His replacement Lucas Patrick exited Wednesday’s practice with what head coach Dennis Allen described as muscle cramps. At right tackle, Penning’s progress has remained incremental. Udoh was already taking the second-team snaps on that side. After stepping in for Penning during a single series at Tulane’s open practice session, Udoh and Penning split reps evenly on Wednesday. Now it’s a real competition.

It’s business as usual at the other spots. Taliese Fuaga is still shaking off a back issue so Landon Young is filling in for him at left tackle. Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz remain the only starters returning from last year at center and right guard. Hergel’s case is interesting, though. He’s taken almost all of the  second-team reps behind Ruiz at right guard this summer but now he’s earning practice time with the starters at left guard and, occasionally, center on the second team. He’s put himself in great position to make the team and dress out on game days.

Allen has stressed the need to identify the five best linemen to start up front. Could that combination include Udoh and Hergel instead of Penning, Patrick, or Saldiveri? Maybe, maybe not. Time is running out for these late entrants to make their case in those competitions. But so long as Penning is struggling to handle his assignments and Saldiveri is unable to get on the practice field, it’s anyone’s game.

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Lucas Patrick’s versatility is a welcome development at Saints training camp

The Saints always value versatility on the offensive line. Lucas Patrick has done well at both left guard and center early in training camp:

With Erik McCoy taking a rest day during the New Orleans Saints’ Wednesday training camp practice, Lucas Patrick filled in at center and played all of the first-team reps in team drills. This was the second day in a row Patrick stepped in as a starter after left guard Nick Saldiveri was injured during Tuesday’s practice.

Patrick’s floor on the team feels like the backup left guard and backup center — a player who is active on game days and ready to go in at a moment’s notice. This is a great position for Patrick as it immediately establishes a value at multiple positions. The Saints offensive line has been questionable, but having a versatile piece will always be valued when it comes to the final roster. Patrick has done well for himself as a starter in the past.

New Orleans always seems to pick up and keep an offensive lineman that can play multiple positions who pays dividends. Think of a player like James Hurst who was originally a backup who could fill in at multiple positions, who then became a starter. The prototype for this is typically a player who lines up at guard and tackle, but this is where Patrick breaks the mold.

Patrick is also not solidified as a backup. His ceiling is starting at left guard. The longer Saldiveri remains on the shelf the more opportunities Patrick has to make a case as the proper starter at left guard.

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Nick Saldiveri leaves Saints training camp practice with calf injury

The injury bug bit Saints second-year offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri once again. The big man exited Monday’s training camp practice early with a calf injury:

The New Orleans Saints offensive line took a hit as second-year offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri left Monday’s training camp practice early after the first day in pads. It’s a disappointing turn for the Old Dominion product, who has been projected to start at left guard after spending his rookie year on the bench.

This injury comes after Saldiveri recovered from a groin injury that he suffered in June. The 23-year-old was also placed on injured reserve this past season with an arm injury that required surgery.

Head coach Dennis Allen was short on details after practice, offering a one-word response when asked about Saldiveri’s early departure: “Calf.” This isn’t the first calf injury Saldiveri has dealt with, though it’s unclear whether it’s the same leg or even the same issue that sidelined him during OTAs last offseason.

If this injury is serious, it could be a big blow for New Orleans. After the departure of Andrus Peat, Saldiveri was in line for a starting role this season. The Saints’ offensive line is already a shaky unit, and having your starting guard suffer multiple injuries is troubling.

There isn’t much information out right now on how serious this calf injury could be. New Orleans just has to hope for the best moving forward. Veteran lineman Lucas Patrick has been competing with Saldiveri at left guard while also taking the second-team snaps at center, so he’s a clear fill-in if Saldiveri has to miss time this summer.

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Saints offensive line depth being tested early at training camp

The New Orleans Saints’ offensive line depth is being tested early at training camp, with position battles heating up and injuries hitting the unit:

The New Orleans Saints have been shuffling the offensive line around for most of training camp, with left guard and right tackle primarily being the positions where battles are taking place. At Friday’s practice, according to NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett, “Lucas Patrick spent much of the day as the starting LG, with Nick Saldiveri with the 2s. A competition there.”

Left guard has been a battle between Patrick, Saldiveri, and Shane Lemieux, the latter of whom suffered an ankle injury recently and was held out of Friday’s practice. Right tackle is also seeing some competition, with Trevor Penning running with the starters but Landon Young getting reps in walkthroughs. Olisaemeka Udoh has also been getting reps at right tackle occasionally, and the other competitor Justin Herron has been sidelined with a knee injury as well.

Outside of those two positions, the presumed locks for the remaining spots are Taliese Fuaga at left tackle (pending the need to move back to right tackle if it does not work out), Cesar Ruiz at right guard, and Erik McCoy at center. The backups for those positions, as well as the starters at right tackle and left guard, are essentially up in the air for now as the training camp battles continue to become more and more intriguing. We will see who ends up starting where come the preseason games, but there could be changes on the horizon with how much movement there has been thus far.

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