All eyes are on Taysom Hill when the New Orleans Saints take the field for pregame warmups at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday. The do-it-all playmaker is dealing with a chest injury that’s left him doubtful to play against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Saints will need a group effort to replace him if he can’t go. No single player can match Hill’s versatile skill set.
Saints fans know it well. Hill can throw, block, run, and catch passes all over the field. He even blocks punts and makes tackles on special teams when asked. But first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has used Hill’s presence to dictate personnel on opposing defenses, and his absence would make it easier for the Eagles to get a read on their intentions.
It isn’t as simple as drafting and developing a backup. They’ve tried that before with players like Tommy Stevens and other teams have tried and failed to copy the strategy. Hill is one-of-one. So who steps up if Hill has to watch this game from the sidelines?
Look for rookie tight end Dallin Holker to make his Saints debut, for one. The former Colorado State standout impressed coaches at training camp over the summer and made the 53-man roster outright, but a minor injury sidelined him for the first two games. If Hill can’t go, Holker makes sense as someone who could dress out in his stead and make some plays as a receiver and blocker inline.
Another name to watch? Fullback Adam Prentice. As ESPN’s Mina Kimes noted earlier this week, Prentice is already up to 50 snaps played through the first two weeks after never logging more than 125 across the last three seasons. He’s the obvious choice to step up as a blocker out of the backfield and occasionally move around like Hill has been asked to do.
But there are things Hill does that no one else on the roster can do. They don’t have another player who can run his signature QB power plays into the teeth of the defense. And his very presence forces the defense to guard them differently, never knowing his assignment or where he could become a problem.
If there’s a silver lining to Hill sitting out this game, it’s that it’s happening in September rather than December or January. This Saints team appears to be playoffs-bound and it’s good for Kubiak to get some work without such an important player early on in case they need to plan without Hill again down the line. We’ll see if he’s able to suit up or not when the inactives report is announced before kickoff.
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