To start the season, the New Orleans Saints did not field the rushing attack that many anticipated they would. Despite a slow start for the first two weeks, in Week 3, that area of the offense began to show signs of life.
With offseason investments at running back, signing explosive back Travis Etienne Jr., and on the offensive line with left guard David Edwards, expectations on the early returns were high for the ground game.
However, in the first two games combined, running backs averaged just 3.2 yards per carry with one rushing touchdown by running back Kendre Miller.
The team currently ranks No. 16 in the NFL in rushing offense but has been aided with runs by quarterback Tyler Shough.
In Week 3, Shough provided his largest contribution thus far with a 36-yard escape and scramble around the right side, the team’s only rush of more than 20 yards this season.
Etienne showed some early promise, averaging 5.1 yards per carry to open the season, but receiving just nine carries in that game, with opportunities dropping even as the team kept a manageable scoring deficit through the first half. After that, Head coach Kellen Moore appeared more committed to the run game, which began to pay off last week against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Without Shough’s 36-yard rush, the running backs averaged 4.15 yards per carry in Week 3 with three rushes going for 10 or more yards.
It was the first promising game from the ground game that was widely expected to be the team’s identity. However, it also took a hit that raises questions about its effectiveness moving forward.
In Week 2, the team lost starting left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and in Week 3, Etienne suffered an injury to a hamstring that had been pestering him going into the matchup.
Without one of its best blockers and its most explosive rusher, the run game that just started to come to life is now in jeopardy of falling back. Veteran rusher Alvin Kamara is still a trusted source of optimism for the rushing attack but also has not had a rush of more than 18 yards since 2024 and averaged just 3.6 yards per carry last year while gaining just 2.8 per rush this year.
Against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night, the Saints will face a defense that has allowed only 2.8 yards per carry so far this season, but has also seen the fewest rushing attempts against because of how available the passing game has been to opponents instead.
Kamara, Miller and short-yardage back C.J. Donaldson will be tasked to keep the run game alive after showing some signs of improvement last week.
If they can, it could mean good things for the team when they eventually get back to full strength on its offensive line and in the backfield.
