Tag: Report

Report: Marcus Davenport’s year is over with foot injury

The New Orleans Saints lost defensive end Marcus Davenport to a foot injury against the San Francisco 49ers, and it will end his season.

Disaster struck the New Orleans Saints defense on Tuesday, with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reporting that starting defensive end Marcus Davenport is expected to go under the knife to repair a ‘significant’ foot injury that will end his season. Davenport suffered the injury in Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. An earlier report from The Athletic’s Nick Underhill confirmed Davenport was dealing with a foot injury, but the severity was unclear at the time.

It’s a huge loss for the Saints, who invested two first-round draft picks in Davenport last season. He was really coming along in his second year with the team and currently ranks second-best in both sacks (6) and quarterback hits (16), with three sacks in his last three games. He had played 534 snaps on defense and made 76 appearances on special teams in 2019.

Foot issues have been a problem for Davenport early in his NFL career. He suffered a grade three turf toe injury last year, which cost him three games and required corrective surgery after the season ended. The nature and exact significance of his current injury is unknown, and it could be a day or two before the Saints release any new information. Saints coach Sean Payton is notoriously tight-lipped with player medical details.

So who will the Saints play opposite Cameron Jordan without him? Expect hybrid defensive end/tackle Mario Edwards Jr. to see increased snap counts in base looks while backup pass rusher Trey Hendrickson continues to play often in obvious passing situations. However, Hendrickson was also banged up with a knee injury against the 49ers. Undrafted rookie Carl Granderson has been a healthy inactive for much of this season, but he’ll probably get more opportunities moving forward.

The Saints are thinner at the position than they’d like to be; their only practice squad pass-rusher is Mitchell Loewen, who has converted to tight end and now wears No. 88 this season. New Orleans hosted veteran free agents Noah Spence, Shane Ray, and Chris Smith for a group workout on Tuesday, so they’re obviously considering all options. Don’t be shocked if one of them ends up signing with the Saints to see them through the rest of the year.

Report: Marcus Davenport managing foot injury after 49ers game

New Orleans Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport suffered a foot injury on a non-contact play against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome was quieted late in the fourth quarter during Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. Second-year Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport pulled up after stepping into his rush and fell to the ground clutching at his left leg. He was able to walk off the field under his own power but didn’t return to the game after logging just 21 snaps on defense.

According to a report from The Athletic’s Nick Underhill, Davenport is managing a foot injury. We probably won’t know any specifics or the severity until the Saints publish their first injury report later this week, and even then the team is notoriously private about medical issues.

Still, a foot issue is better than, say, a knee injury. Maybe only marginally so, but it is better in the sense that fewer season-threatening ailments strike players in the feet than in their knees, where important ligaments like the ACL and MCL are located. It’s worth remembering that a serious grade-three turf toe injury slowed Davenport down in his rookie year and required surgery once it wrapped up. Here’s hoping his latest problem isn’t so serious.

[lawrence-related id=24267]

Report: Kiko Alonso ‘day-to-day’ with injury, status in doubt vs. 49ers

New Orleans Saints linebacker Kiko Alonso is reportedly managing a thigh injury on a day-to-day basis, requiring the signing of Manti Te’o.

The New Orleans Saints re-signed linebacker Manti Te’o on Tuesday, following injuries to starters Kiko Alonso and A.J. Klein. Te’o started most of the 2017 season for the Saints before improved health in the linebacker corps (and the addition of Demario Davis) sidelined him in 2018, and he’s been a free agent since then.

According to a report from Katherine Terrell of The Athletic, Alonso’s status with a thigh injury isn’t considered a long-term concern. Terrell reported that Alonso is day-to-day at this point and the team isn’t sure whether he will be cleared to play on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. That could change in the next three days after team trainers get the opportunity to administer treatment and reevaluate Alonso’s condition, but in the meantime Te’o gives the Saints an experienced option to add to the depth chart.

Special teamers Craig Robertson and Stephone Anthony were each forced into last week’s game with the Atlanta Falcons after Alonso and Klein went out with injuries; it took a combined 11 snaps from them for the Saints to decide Te’o was needed. Whether Te’o plays on Sunday after being signed on the previous Tuesday is unlikely, but it can’t be ruled out if Alonso misses this 49ers game. Klein’s condition is less clear, and no information is coming out of New Orleans just yet on what’s ailing him. We should learn something when the week’s first injury report is published Wednesday afternoon.

[lawrence-related id=23784]

[vertical-gallery id=23720]

Terron Armstead week-to-week after high-ankle sprain vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints lost starting left tackle Terron Armstead with a high-ankle sprain against the Carolina Panthers, sidelining him.

The New Orleans Saints lost starting left tackle Terron Armstead during Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers to a high-ankle sprain, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday morning. Armstead is managing his injury on a week-to-week basis and is already ruled out for Thursday night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. High-ankle sprains can sideline players for as long as a month, though it’s not uncommon for them to return sooner.

It’s obviously a huge loss for the Saints offensive line. The step down from Armstead to his backup, Patrick Omameh, is as wide a gulf as there can be found in the NFL — when healthy, Armstead is an All-Pro talent and one of the best left tackles in the game. Omameh is a journeyman with more NFL experience at both left and right guard than left tackle. The Saints also have an option in rookie left tackle Ethan Greenidge, an undrafted free agent out of Villanova who has been a healthy inactive all year.

This injury compounds a bigger issue for the Saints offensive line, which is the absence of starting left guard Andrus Peat. Peat is expected to miss about four more weeks after having his broken arm surgically repaired. He’s normally the top option to fill in for Armstead at left tackle, but he’s off the table and replaced by backup left guard Nick Easton.

Hopefully things stabilize for the Saints soon, but for now, it appears they’re going into the late-season stretch with both their starting left tackle and left guard sidelined by injuries. Their next opponent is the Atlanta Falcons, who sacked quarterback Drew Brees six times just a few weeks ago, when both Armstead and Peat were in the lineup. New Orleans has to make some quick adjustments on the fly.

[vertical-gallery id=23127]

Terron Armstead injured, questionable to return vs. Panthers

New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead injured his ankle and is questionable to return to play versus the Carolina Panthers.

[jwplayer 2kZ1kNtl]

The New Orleans Saints offensive line took another hit early against the Carolina Panthers, with left tackle Terron Armstead injured his ankle during the first quarter. Armstead walked off the field slowly under his own power before riding a medical staff cart into the locker room. An announcement from the team updated his status as questionable to return to the game.

In his place, the Saints called up veteran  backup Patrick Omameh, who has spent most of his time in the NFL at left or right guard. The Saints were already starting a backup next to Armstead in Nick Easton, who was filling in for injured starter Andrus Peat. Ironically, Peat is normally the go-to option to replace Armstead, but he’s going to be out about four more weeks after breaking his arm against the Atlanta Falcons.

This injury to Armstead has been one of the few problem areas on offense for the Saints against Carolina. They have otherwise avoided mistakes and converted on tough downs, ending two of their first three drives with touchdown scores (including a 26-yard run by Latavius Murray and a 13-yard pass to Tre’Quan Smith). That third drive ended with a punt, which the Saints were fortunate to recover.

Armstead’s status is officially questionable to return, so he hasn’t been ruled out entirely. Stay tuned for an update to his situation.

[vertical-gallery id=22891]

Report: Seahawks tight end Ed Dickson headed back to injured reserve

In an unexpected turn of events, Seahawks TE Ed Dickson – who was just activated this week – could be headed back to the injured reserve.

Just days after the Seattle Seahawks activated tight end Ed Dickson back to the 53-man roster, he might be headed back to the injured reserve.

A report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler indicates that’s exactly what is likely to happen.

“Seahawks expected to place TE Ed Dickson back on IR, according to sources,” Fowler tweeted early Thursday evening. “Dickson was activated this week but there’s concern over his recovery from injury.”

This report contradicts what coach Pete Carroll had said earlier in the week – that Dickson would actually be able to carry a full workload Sunday against the Eagles.

“He’s going to play a regular load if the week works out fine,” Carroll said Wednesday. “He’s been conditioning for a long time. He’s been practicing with us for quite a while. He should be ready to go. Weight’s in a good spot. He looks like he’s in good shape. He won’t play the whole game because we’ll be moving guys in and out. We expect him to play a regular role.”

If the Seahawks do place Dickson back on the injured reserve, they will undoubtedly have to active Tyrone Swoopes up from the practice squad.

This story is continuing to develop.

[lawrence-related id=51351]

Report: Josh Hill suffered ‘mild’ concussion vs. Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints lost backup tight end Josh Hill with a concussion, which one report described as a mild injury rather than serious.

[jwplayer WU2Y8Ngc]

The New Orleans Saints lost a big part of their offense on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when backup tight end Josh Hill was ruled out from returning to the game with a concussion. Hill isn’t the pass-catching threat many would expect a valued Saints tight end to perform as, but he fills a critical role in the offense as one of their best blockers. Saints coach Sean Payton described his loss as like losing the front door to a house, requiring a quick scramble to adjust his playsheet.

Fortunately, Hill appears to have escaped a serious brain injury. Per Larry Holder of The Athletic, Hill’s concussion was described as mild, though the team still took all precautions to protect his health. Hill was a limited participant in practice on the Wednesday Saints injury report, which is encouraging. It’s worth noting that he was limited in practice throughout the week before the Buccaneers game with a calf issue, though it didn’t slow him down in the game.

Hill has averaged nearly 39 snaps per game this season, often outplaying big free agent signing Jared Cook. Still, it isn’t really fair to compare the two of them given their vastly different skills sets; Hill is a blocker first and a receiver second, while the Saints spent the summer suggesting Cook’s arrival would allow them to open up a part of the playbook once designed for Jimmy Graham. If Cook continues to catch touchdowns like his high-flying grab against Tampa Bay, he might end up earning that adulation.

Even if this latest concussion is only a minor hurdle, fans should remember that it’s the third brain injury in as many years for Hill. He exited last year’s NFC championship game with a concussion and dealt with another one early in the 2017 season. Here’s hoping this isn’t the beginning of a trend like the series of concussions that ended Coby Fleener’s Saints career.

[vertical-gallery id=22742]

Saints rule out Josh Hill vs. Buccaneers with concussion

The New Orleans Saints lost backup TE Josh Hill during their game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a concussion, leaving them shorthanded.

[jwplayer fqTgTjBU-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints ruled backup tight end Josh Hill out for the rest of their game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced Sunday. Hill suffered a concussion during the first half and was not cleared to return by team medical staff.

It’s made the Saints short-handed at the position, with Jared Cook the only active tight end left in the game. Third-year reserve Dan Arnold was a healthy scratch before kickoff, though the Saints can shift do-it-all quarterback Taysom Hill into the tight end spot in a pinch.

One other adjustment the Saints can make in Hill’s absence is the use of extra offensive linemen in heavy personnel packages. They went to that exact look early in the fourth quarter for a short-yardage situation, sending backup blockers Will Clapp and Patrick Omameh out to reinforce the formation — meaning every active offensive lineman was on the field at the same time. Quarterback Drew Brees ended up leaping over the top of the line to pick up a fresh set of downs.

Hopefully Hill won’t be plagued by concussion symptoms in the coming weeks. He was limited in practice throughout the past week with a calf injury, though it obviously didn’t prevent him from suiting up. The Saints lack depth at tight end and haven’t gotten consistent production out of Cook to this point in the season. Still, Hill’s health is what is most important, and he shouldn’t rush to return from this brain injury.

[vertical-gallery id=22474]