Saints’ offense will be almost unrecognizable in season finale

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons released their final injury reports ahead of their season finale matchup. New Orleans has been severely hamstrung on the offensive side, especially at wide receiver. Meanwhile the Falcons are dealing with a few injuries that could impact their defense.

Here is the information from Friday’s injury report:

New Orleans Saints

Out

• DT Bryan Bresee (knee)
• RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle)
• WR Chris Olave (illness)
• DT Nathan Shepherd (ankle/knee)

Questionable

• QB Spencer Rattler (right finger)
• LB Demario Davis (calf)
• G Dillon Radunz (knee)

No Game Designation (Good to go)

• QB Tyler Shough (hip)
• G Cesar Ruiz (ankle)

The Saints will also be without wide receiver Mason Tipton, tight ends Jack Stoll and Zaire Mitchell-Paden and cornerback Michael Davis, all of whom were placed on Injured Reserve on Friday.

To help to counteract the losses along the roster, New Orleans signed wide receivers Ronnie Bell and Samori Toure as well as rookie defensive end Fadil Diggs to the active roster. Each of which is likely to see substantial playing time, especially the two wideouts.

With Rattler questionable and having not practiced all week, the Saints could look to get third-year passer Jake Haener up to the active roster or game day roster for insurance at the position. Though, Taysom Hill provides a built-in option as well.

Atlanta Falcons

Out

• DL Brandon Dorlus (hamstring)
• CB Clark Phillips III (triceps/illness)

Questionable

• S DeMarrco Hellams (hamstring)
• WR Drake London (knee)
• TE Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee)
• DL Sam Roberts (knee/ankle)
• WR Darnell Mooney (knee)

No Game Designation (Good to go)

• S Jessie Bates III (NIR-rest)
• ILB Kaden Elliss (NIR-rest)
• EDGE Leonard Floyd (NIR-rest)
• T Jake Matthews (NIR-rest)
• TE Charlie Woener (NIR-rest)
• DL David Onyemata (NIR-rest)

Cornerback Mike Hughes, who was battling an ankle injury, was added to Injured Reserve by the Falcons. He appeared in 91% of the Falcons’ defensive snaps, so that is a loss in the secondary for Atlanta.

With Dorlus officially ruled out, the Falcons will also be slightly short-handed on the defensive interior. The Saints will need to attack that with their run game, being that New Orleans is hampered at the wide receiver position. The ground attack with running back Audric Estime may be the Saints’ best bet at stealing an upset win on the road in Atlanta.