The New Orleans Saints have announced their inactive players ahead of their Week 10 showdown with the Carolina Panthers.
Not named among them is running back Travis Etienne Jr., who is set to make his return from a hamstring injury that’s sidelined him since his first game in the Caesars Superdome Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
In front of him will be a patchworked offensive line that’s looking to continue the success it found last week in the team’s win over the Cleveland Browns. Etienne can be a big part of driving that improvement further with his home-run ability and capabilities catching passes out of the backfield.
The trio of Etienne, Audric Estime and Alvin Kamara at running back could help the Saints continue to take steps forward in their ground attack.
- QB Zach Wilson (3rd QB)
- S Mike Reid
- RB C.J. Donaldson (shoulder, concussion)
- LB Jaylan Ford
- RT Taliese Fuaga (knee)
- C Erik McCoy (biceps)
With McCoy and Fuaga both out, the Saints will be shuffling in new faces at center, right guard and right tackle. The team’s usual starting right guard Cesar Ruiz will move inside to center while rookie Jeremiah Wright will get his second start at right guard. It’s expected that Asim Richards Jr. will take on the right tackle spot, although Mason Murphy has earned some looks in previous weeks.
With no cornerbacks listed among the inactives, questionable players like Martin Emerson Jr. and Quincy Riley are likely to have checked out fine leading into the game. That’s good news for New Orleans as it braces for the trio of talented and physical wide receivers of Carolina.
On the Panthers’ side, they’ve activated wide receiver Xavier Legette, but will still be down their top three cornerbacks. Jaycee Horn is on Injured Reserve, Mike Jackson is still in his 21-day practice window and WIll Lee has been ruled out after suffering an in-practice hamstring injury ahead of the game.
That could lead to big days for the Saints’ top wide receiver trio as well, fueling a potential shootout between quarterbacks Tyler Shough and Bryce Young.
