Injuries loom for Saints, Panthers ahead of Sunday matchup

By Ross Jackson

METAIRIE, La. – The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers have each ruled out one player for their Sunday matchup. Additionally, both teams have some key names listed as questionable. Carolina especially will be waiting for bated breath on an important player for their offense and what his availability might be for the game.

Here is the information from Friday’s final injury report:

New Orleans Saints

Out

• T Taliese Fuaga (ankle)

Questionable

• RB Alvin Kamara (ankle)
• TE Jack Stoll (ankle)
• T Barry Wesley (hip)
• DE Jonah Williams (shoulder)
• DT Bryan Bresee (back)

No Injury Designation (Good to Go)

• QB Taysom Hill (knee)
• DE Cameron Jordan (ankle)
• DT Davon Godchaux (NIR-rest)

With Fuaga ruled out, lineman Asim Richards will step in at right tackle. He started a game already for the team earlier this year. He is credited with nine pressures allowed, but no sacks, by Pro Football Focus. 

New Orleans named five players questionable including starting running back Kamara. Along with rookie back Devin Neal, keeping running back Audric Estime active would make a lot of sense for the game. Estime was signed to the active roster earlier in the week. 

Bresee, who was added to the injury report on Thursday, was participating in practice on Friday. 

Carolina Panthers

Out

• G Chandler Zavala (elbow)

Questionable

• WR Brycen Tremayne (hip)
• WR Tetairoa McMillan (hamstring)

No Game Designation (Good to Go)

• RB Rico Dowdle (quadricep)
• DT Derrick Brown (elbow)
• S Lathan Ransom (illness)
• G Damien Lewis (oblique)
• C Cade Mays (ankle/knee)
• OLB Princely Umanmielen (ankle)

The big name to watch for Carolina has become McMillan. The first-round wideout came up with a hamstring injury in Friday’s practice, one that head coach Dave Canales said has generated “concern” pertaining to his availability for Sunday. Both he and Tremayne could force a light wide receiver room for the Panthers. 

Meanwhile, Dowdle and Brown, the other big names on the report, appear to be good to go despite managing injury throughout the week.