NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints announced their first series of pregame transactions of the season with one surprising move for running back Audric Estime.
The Saints have placed Estime on injured reserve after his thigh injury kept him out of practice throughout the first week of preparations for the season. All signs indicated that Estime was good to go coming out of his previous ankle injury, however the thigh injury require a greater length of recovery.
As a corresponding move, the Saints signed tight end Treyton Welch to the active roster and named wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. and running back CJ Donaldson as their standard elevations from the practice squad. All three players will be active on Sunday against Detroit.
Welch and Austin both made the team’s initial 53-man roster but were moved to waivers and eventually signed to the practice squad. The team added offensive lineman Mason Murphy and defensive lineman Colby Wooden off of waivers following the league’s first wave of roster cuts after the preseason.
The Saints will now have three active tight ends on game day in addition to five active wide receivers, giving them much more flexibility for their pass-catching options.
Donaldson could be a signal that star back Alvin Kamara, who is questionable going into the game in Detroit, may not be available on Sunday, or may have a smaller role having only returned to practice in the last week.
