NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Saints have announced their roster moves ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Carolina Panthers, a battle for sole possession of the top of the NFC South. In the process, a disappointing rookie season is facing another setback.
The good news: New Orleans will be getting its top running back, Travis Etienne Jr., back after being sidelined since Week 3 with a hamstring injury.
The bad news: defensive tackle Christen Miller is now headed to injured reserve after suffering a knee injury, one of three knee injuries suffered during the Saints’ practice week.
Miller, a second-round rookie out of Georgia, hasn’t had the rookie season that many expected. The Saints drafted him to help improve their run defense, but the team had its best performance against the run with him as a healthy inactive.
When asked about his development so far, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley sent a strong message. “He needs to practice,” he said. Now, it will be at least four weeks before he does so.
In addition to bringing back Etienne, the Saints also signed offensive tackle Easton Kilty to the active roster from the practice squad. That fills the roster spot vacated by Miller’s assignment to the injury list. Etienne fills the spot left open when the team traded defensive tackle Davon Godchaux.
Kilty had a strong performance throughout the preseason and was often chosen as one of the fastest risers going into roster cuts. With linemen Erik McCoy and Taliese Fuaga both out with injuries, Kilty provides valuable and versatile depth along the offensive line.
Lastly, the Saints also elevated kicker Charlie Smyth, who has retained the starting role. This is Smyth’s second of three elevations, which the Saints will certainly use next week in Chicago. New Orleans has continued to use Smyth’s elevations rather than adding him to the active roster immediately so that it can keep its 53-man roster flexible.
