By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS – It has been a long offseason for New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller. He started training camp with an immediate hamstring injury during the first day’s individual drills. After that, he never was able to work his way back to the field. No practices, no preseason games.
The unfortunate turn of events drew a lot of ire from the public and even caused head coach Dennis Allen to fire some shots across the bow when it comes to Miller’s health record. As news poured in of Tuesday’s roster cuts, Miller’s offseason ended up getting a little longer.
Per Senior NFL Insider Josina Anderson, Miller is expected to start the season on Injured Reserve (IR). In previous years this move would mean that the running back’s season would be over. However this year, things are a little different.
Due to an NFL rule change earlier this year, teams can now place two players on short-term IR before the season begins, requiring that the moves are made during roster cuts.
Per NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett, the team will use one of those two spots for Miller in this case. The team now has one designation that they can still use during roster cuts. Teams can place a maximum of eight players on short-team IR during the regular season, however.
This means that Miller will miss at least the first four games of the season and second-year back Jordan Mims may have locked up a much-deserved roster spot
Mims was impressive all throughout camp and had some nice showings in the run game, special teams and pass blocking in his preseason opportunities. Mims looks like a natural fit in the new system and looks to be set to join veteran running backs Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams for at least those first four games.
After which, Miller will have a practice window that can open. That window will give him up to three weeks to work his way back to the active roster otherwise he would revert to season-ending IR. As a drafted and talented player, he deserves the chance to get healthy and fight for his spot. But this may end up being his last chance.
