Khalen Saunders joins long list of Saints inactives

The New Orleans Saints have released their inactives ahead of their Thursday Night Football matchup with the Denver Broncos. Among them, yet another in-week injury will lead to a key absence on a defensive line that surrendered 277 rushing yards last week to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, the Saints prepare for the return of their 2023 third-round running back.

Here are the Saints’ inactives:

QB Derek Carr (Oblique)

TE Taysom Hill (Rib)

WR Chris Olave (Concussion)

LB Pete Werner (Hamstring)

RB Jordan Mims

DT Khalen Saunders (Back)

G Cesar Ruiz (Knee)

With Mims inactive, the Saints are preparing for the season debut of running back Kendre Miller. The TCU product offers a much-needed new weapon for the team without much of their passing-game targets available. This is a game the team will have to find a way to win with defense and its running game, two of the units that started the season off looking reliable but have unfortunately simmered down over the last few weeks.

Saunders suffered a back injury during the week and will now miss another game. Werner is now missing his second game with an injury that was suffered in practice as well. The injury bug continues to bite and bite hard for the Saints roster.

Olave joins fellow wide receiver Rashid Shaheed as unavailable this evening. Shaheed was added to Injured Reserve Thursday afternoon, but will be done for the season following his meniscus surgery. Rookie wideouts Bub Means and Mason Tipton will have to be the receiving threats at wide receiver for rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler while rookie Jermaine Jackson helps to fill Shaheed’s void in the return game. Veteran wideouts Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Equanimeous St. Brown will also have to step up to help the team move the ball through the air.