Alvin Kamara remains absent as Saints ready for Week 17 bout

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

METAIRIE, La. – The New Orleans Saints shifted their practice schedule ahead of their Week 17 game against the Tennessee Titans in order to allot a day off for Christmas later in the week. With an earlier than usual practice in the week, the team mostly did walkthrough work.

Here is the list of players not seen during the open portion of Tuesday’s practice:

RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle)
RG Cesar Ruiz (ankle)
TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden (knee)
TE Foster Moreau (ankle)
DT Bryan Bresee (knee)

Kamara remains absent with just two games left in the season. He grew up in Norcross, Ga., not far from Atlanta. Perhaps the timeline will free him up to return for the final game of the year against the Atlanta Falcons, a game where he could have a lot of support in the stands despite the away environment.

One player returned to the practice field, backup offensive lineman Asim Richards. He observed off to the side during the on-field work that the media was in attendance to see. While he was back, it’s still expected that right guard will be handled by lineman William Sherman.

Moreau and Bresee are expected to miss the Titans game but the Saints are leaving open the possibility of either or both returning in the closing week.

Per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, Moreau’s injury is typically a two-week recovery period. But the tight end has come out ahead of injury timelines before.