Saints lose Fuaga, Stoll to high ankle sprains vs Rams


Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

METAIRIE, La. — After returning to New Orleans following their loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Saints head coach Kellen Moore met with the local media. Amidst the conversation, which centered around the team’s frustrating start to the season and the first start for rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, Moore also provided health updates on a pair of players that left with injury on Sunday.

Per Moore, both right tackle Taliese Fuaga and tight end Jack Stoll suffered high ankle sprains in the Rams loss.

Both players were carted off the field in short succession of one another after going into the injury tent for a short while late in the game.

Their return timelines are uncertain and noted as “week-to-week” by Moore. That puts their availability for Sunday’s Week 10 matchup in jeopardy.

With Fuaga out, the team again turned to offensive lineman Asim Richards, whom the team acquired via a trade this offseason.

Stoll’s absence meant more work for top tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau. A new addition to the position, Zaire Mitchell-Paden, could be in for his season debut next week against the Carolina Panthers. His blocking acumen, much like Stoll’s, is highly touted and part of what led the Saints to claim him off of waivers just a couple of weeks ago.

These will be a pair of injuries to monitor moving forward, especially Fuaga’s. New Orleans’ protection unit in the pass and run blocking games appear to have had more downs than ups through the first nine games. Losing a first-round pick starter for extended time won’t help.

Earlier this year, starting right guard Cesar Ruiz was expected to miss four to six weeks with a similar injury. However, he returned after just a single game missed.

Ross Jackson

New Orleans Saints Content Writer