By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS – In a move that has been expected all week, the New Orleans Saints announced that they have placed do-it-all tight end Taysom Hill on Injured Reserve. The move will be the first of a flurry of transactions that will take place ahead of Sunday’s game, but it will certainly be the most substantial.
Hill suffered a gruesome knee injury in last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. After being tackled on a fourth-and-one run play, Hill was hit low by a Rams defender. The hit forced Hill’s knee to bend awkwardly and resulted in a torn ACL as well as additional damage to the knee.
Hill’s season is over and the placement on Injured Reserve simply confirms it.
The Saints will have their hands cut out for them developing a committee approach to making up for Hill’s many contributions against the New York Giants this weekend.
In the next 24 hours or so there are some additional transactions that should be on the way. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi said on Friday that running back Kendre Miller is on track to return against the Giants. With Hill moved to nIjured Reserve, the Saints could use that roster spot to get Miller back on the active roster.
Offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri could be another player moved to the injury list this weekend. The second-year guard also suffered a knee injury against Los Angeles and is expected to miss an extended period of time. In that roster spot look for one of the team’s practice squad wide receivers, Kevin Austin Jr. or Dante Pettis, to fill.
