The Week 9 position of concern for the New Orleans Saints is officially cornerback.
The Saints had three corners not participating in practice on Thursday due to various injuries including one midweek downgrade. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers saw a major downgrade of their own in their passing attack. The good news for New Orleans is that safety Tyrann Mathieu was back after missing Wednesday’s practice with illness.
Here is the information from Thursday’s injury report:
New Orleans Saints
Did Not Participate:
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (Hamstring)
WR Bub Means (Ankle)
CB Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring)
RB Kendre Miller (Hamstring)
CB Rico Payton (Back)
DT John Ridgeway III (Oblique)
Limited Participation:
QB Derek Carr (Oblique)
WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. (Hip)
RB Jamaal Williams (Groin)
RB Alvin Kamara (Hand/Rib)
G Nick Saldiveri (Shoulder)
Full Participation:
S Tyrann Mathieu (Illness)
LB Nephi Sewell (Designated To Return From IR – Knee)
G Shane Lemieux (Designated To Return From IR – Knee)
TE Juwan Johnson (Shoulder)
It’s a lengthy injury report for both teams but the Saints are missing some key contributors as practice rolls along this week. As highlighted earlier, the cornerback room has taken a massive hit so far. The only true corner on the team’s active roster is slot cornerback Alontae Taylor. Expect moves to potentially bring practice squad corners like Shemar Jean-Charles and newly-signed Tre Herndon up for game day if things continue to trend the way they are.
New Orleans did get Wilson Jr. and Mathieu back, which could go a long way in helping them out this weekend. With the injuries at corner, safety play will become very important for the Saints. Meanwhile the team has been managing quite a bit of attrition at wideout as well, so getting Wilson Jr. back would be helpful.
The team’s continued battles with soft tissue injuries and midweek health complications are certainly concerning.
Carolina Panthers
Did Not Participate:
T Ikem Ekwonu (Ankle)
TE Feleipe Franks (Concussion)
S Jammie Robinson (Knee)
T Taylor Moton (NIR-Rest)
Limited Participation:
WR Adam Thielen (Hamstring)
OLB DJ Johnson (Ankle)
TE Tommie Tremble (Back)
WR Xavier Leggette (Toe)
Full Participation:
OLB Jadeveon Clowney (NIR-Rest)
LB Josey Jewell (NIR-Rest)
DE A’Shawn Robinson (NIR-Rest)
RB Jonathan Brooks (Knee)
DT Jaden Crumedy (Ankle)
QB Andy Dalton (Right Thumb)
S Jordan Fuller (Hamstring)
T Yosh Nijman (Knee)
OLB DJ Wonnum (Quadricep)
The big news for Carolina is rookie wideout Xavier Leggette. With the Saints managing so many health issues at cornerback, this would be a good time to get their first-year receiver going. He has only 211 receiving yards so far this season. But a toe injury limited his participation. Something g to watch as the practice week closes out on Friday.
