Four Saints starters sidelined on initial injury report

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Following the New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Miami Dolphins, it was known that injuries would likely begin to take their toll. However, on Wednesday, the list was longer than expected. Four starting and star-level players were listed without participation in Wednesday’s practice. All will be important to watch throughout the week.

Here is the information from Wednesday’s injury report:

New Orleans Saints

Did Not Participate

T Taliese Fuaga (ankle)

RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle)

WR Chris Olave (back)

S Justin Reid (knee)

Per head coach Kellen Moore, Olave’s absence is connected to maintenance around the same back issue that forced him into questionable status before last week’s game. Meanwhile Fuaga is now dealing with a new ankle injury after having just returned after being out since the bye week. While Olave could find his way back to practice, the initial outlook for Fuaga may not be as positive.

Reid has the potential for missed time connected to the knee injury he sustained against the Miami Dolphins this past week. Moore said that he is not an Injured Reserve candidate, but his timeline remains to be determined.

Kamara missed last week’s game with knee and ankle injuries and could be in line to miss a second. But with Thursday and Friday left, any of these players could surprise by trending in the right direction after this early practice.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Did Not Participate

T Tristan Wirfs (oblique)

Limited Participation

WR Mike Evans (IR) (collarbone)

WR Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula)

RB Bucky Irving (shoulder)

QB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder)

WR Jalen McMillan (IR) (neck)

Full Participation

CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring)

OLB Haason Reddick (ankle)

S Rashad Wisdom (IR) (quad)

The Buccaneers’s side of the report is estimated and therefore Thursday and Friday will be more revealing than the first practice’s list.Evans and McMillan will be important to track throughout the week as both receivers saw their 21-day practice window opened and are working their way back from Injured Reserve. Though it is unclear whether or not the tandem of wideouts will be ready to go against New Orleans this weekend.

Wirfs is another big name to watch throughout the week. He and Saints defensive end Chase Young had a formidable battle when the two met in Week 8. If he ends up being out, or limited, it could mean a big day on the way for Young, who forced a sack-fumble in the teams’ last contest.