By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints have announced which five players will be inactive against the Green Bay Packers. Along with the two expected absences of quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara, the Saints will be without a top pass-catcher and two defensive tackles.
Here are the Saints inactives:
QB Derek Carr (Left Hand)
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Chest/Illness)
RB Alvin Kamara (Groin)
DT Nathan Shepherd (Eye)
DT Khristian Boyd
Valdes-Scantling would likely have been able to go this week were it not for an illness that set in late in the practice week on Friday. The chest injury was not expected to keep him out of practice, but as a bug went around the locker room, it jeopardized the wideout’s week. Rookie wide receiver Mason Tipton will be active in exchange. He and starting quarterback Spencer Rattler had great chemistry during training camp.
Shepherd was a late status change on Monday afternoon. The team will be without him against Green Bay’s fanatic running back Josh Jacobs. Despite his being inactive, rookie Boyd remains a healthy scratch for now. That is likely because the team does return versatile defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon to the lineup in this game. He will make his season debut.
Without Carr and Kamara, the young quarterback-running back duo of Rattler and Kendre Miller will take center stage for the Saints in Green Bay. With a very limited pool of wide receivers, tight ends and backs will have to play a pass-catching role in order for the team to find success on the air.
