Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints went from being impressively healthy throughout training camp to now managing three injuries on the offensive line.
It began nearly two weeks ago with third-year offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri seeing his season come to an early end by landing on Injured Reserve for the third consecutive year. Then, during Sunday’s preseason loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the team also lost lineman Will Clapp for the season to a lisfranc injury.
The team received better news on another early exit from the exhibition matchup, starting left guard Trevor Penning. The fourth-year lineman will miss “a few weeks” with a turf toe injury, with the clear potential of missing the Saints’ season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
If Penning does indeed miss regular season playing time, which feels likely unless he has a very low-grade turf toe injury, the Saints’ starting offensive line could already see its first shake up.
Replacing Penning on Tuesday’s practice was veteran offensive lineman Dillon Radunz. The 2021 second-rounder started 15 games for the Tennessee Titans last year at right guard, but struggled in the Saints’ preseason opener while manning both tackle positions.
Against the Chargers, Radunz surrendered two sacks and was graded positively on just one of his 11 run blocking reps, per Pro Football Focus.
However, he was playing out of position thanks to the absence of swing tackle Landon Young, who was also nursing a minor injury. Young returned to practice on Tuesday.
The Saints can now place Radunz back on the interior next to starting left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. in the hopes that he returns to form back on the interior.
There’s a chance that the starting offensive line for New Orleans in Week One now features Banks at left tackle, Radunz at left guard, Erik McCoy at center, Cesar Ruiz at right guard and Taliese Fuaga at right tackle. But the timeline on Penning’s return will be the deciding factor here.
That would mean two new faces (including the rookie Banks) and three players at new positions. That is, if everyone else stays healthy until then.
