Saints offense depleted ahead of Jets matchup

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

Things are looking bleak, healthwise for the New Orleans Saints as they get set to square off with the New York Jets in Week 16. The Saints’ offense is going to be terribly short-handed, even more so than it already was, to close out the year with one promising young contributor seeing his season come to an end.

Here is the injury report and the roster moves made on Thursday:

New Orleans Saints

Did Not Participate

RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle)
RB Devin Neal (hamstring – sent to Injured Reserve)
T Asim Richards (ankle)
G Cesar Ruiz (ankle0
WR Devaughn Vele (shoulder)
DT Davon Godchaux (NIR-rest)
WR Mason Tipton (Illness)

Limited Participation

DT Nathan Shepherd (ankle/knee)

Full Participation

QB Tyler Shough (hip)
S Justin Reid (knee)

It’s going to be a depleted Saints offense on Sunday against the Jets, but a prime opportunity for Shough to show that he can elevate talent around him. Neal has been added to Injured Reserve, ending his season with only three games left to play. All eyes remain on Vele and Ruiz to see if similar paths are taken by virtue of how few games are left in the season.

The team will still need to make another roster move in order to advance kicker Charlie Smyth to the active roster. Perhaps that will be a waived player, but it could also end up being another injured player being added to Injured Reserve.

Tipton’s absence had many holding their breath for the already short-handed passing attack, however being that he missed with illness, things could quickly turn around for the better relative to his availability.

New Orleans also added two new players to their practice squad, veteran running back Nyheim Hines and third-year wideout Elijah Cooks (6-foot-4, 215 pounds). It’s not likely that either will have an expansive role as soon as this weekend with just two practices under their belts, but over the next few weeks, that could be instrumental in helping to finish out the year. In order to make room on the practice squad, wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. was added to the active roster and kicker Cade York had his contract terminated.

New York Jets

Did Not Participate

S Tony Adams (groin)
LB Kiko Mauigoa (neck)
TE Mason Taylor (neck)
DL Eric Watts (concussion)

Limited Participation

QB Justin Fields (knee)
QB Tyrod Taylor (groin/knee)

Full Participation

RB Breece Hall (knee)
EDGE Jermaine Johnson II (neck/calf)
OL Josh Myers (ankle)
OL Xavier Newman (knee)
OL Joe Tippmann (ankle)
DL Jay Tufele (shin)

The Jets’ list is completely unchanged except for a knee injury added to Taylor’s status. Adam, Mauigoa, Taylor and Watts have all already been ruled out. With rookie quarterback Brady Cook set to start, either Fields or Taylor may end up being the primary backup for the game. Thanks to Taylor’s new injury, that decision appears that it may end up favoring Fields.