Saints rule out four, Olave expected to play vs Titans

By Ross Jackson

METAIRIE, La. – The final practices are in the books for the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans before their Week 17 bout. The Saints have ruled out four and also processed two transactions on the day.

Here is the information from Friday’s injury report, including game designations:

New Orleans Saints

Out

DT Bryan Bresee (knee)

RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle)

TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden (knee)

G Cesar Ruiz (ankle)

Questionable

K Charlie Smyth (illness)

WR Chris Olave (back)

WR Mason Tipton (groin)

No Game Designation (Good to go)

DT Davon Godchaux (NIR – rest)

DT Nathan Shepherd (ankle/knee)

T Asim Richards (ankle)

QB Tyler Shough (hip)

Sources tell LouisianaSports.Net that Olave’s back injury isn’t expected to keep him out for the weekend’s matchup. The wide receiver is coming off of a career-high day in receiving yards and is on the verge of franchise history with another big day.  That’s great news for the Saints and rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.

The players ruled out are no surprise with each being expected to miss the week going in. However, New Orleans will be getting one player back in Richards, though it’s unclear if he will start over William Sherman at right guard. 

In addition to the injury report, the Saints also added tight end Foster Moreau to Injured Reserve. He left the Week 16 win over the New York Jets in the third quarter with an ankle injury. With the open roster spot, rookie tight end Moliki Matavao was added from the practice squad. 

Tennessee Titans

Out

CB Marcus Harris (knee)

OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo*(fibula)

WR Bryce Oliver (knee)

Questionable

OLB Ali Gaye (knee)

CB Micah Robinson (illness)

No Game Designation (Good to go)

RB Julius Chestnut (back)

LB Cedric Gray (concussion)

CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (Achilles)

OLB Jaylen Harrell (NIR-rest)

TE Gunnar Helm (toe)

DE Sebastian Joseph-Day (calf)

G Kevin Zeitler (groin)

The Titans secondary continues to be impacted by injury. Tennessee is going to be without Harris and now could be down Robinson as well, who was added to the Injury Report on Friday with illness.

Otherwise, the Titans look to be headed into Sunday’s game as healthy as the current roster allows.