By Ross Jackson
**UPDATE, 2:51 p.m. — Pete Werner has been ruled out for Monday night’s game in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY — Losing a starting linebacker ahead of a huge matchup is never a good thing, but that’s the reality yet again for the New Orleans Saints.
Per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, the Saints may be without starting linebacker Pete Werner against the Kansas City Chiefs. This comes just one week after the Saints had to take the field without fellow linebacker Demario Davis and compounds the absence of Willie Gay Jr. at the position, who was ruled out in Saturday’s injury report.
Davis is expected to be back in the lineup, which provides some solace.
Health has continued to be an issue for New Orleans. A new injury set in just about every day of training camp and that frequency has not yet begun to slow down. The team, particularly over the last two weeks, has seen a new name pop up on their injury report every practice. The team has had six injuries occur during practices over the last two weeks and this time one of those ailments might cost them yet another starter this week.
If Werner is not able to go with the hamstring injury that sidelined him on Saturday, linebackers Anfernee Orji and D’Marco Jackson would be next in line to step up. Both Orji and Jackson impressed throughout camp, and Jackson quickly went from sub-package linebacker responsibilities to a multi-down player last week when Gay Jr. suffered his hand injury.
This continues a concerning trend for New Orleans to start the season.
The Saints are already without several offensive lineman, with their top left guard questionable. They are gearing up to start the third center in three games, the fourth player to take snaps at the position. It’s safe to say that the injury ball has not bounced their way. And that feels like that has been alarmingly the case for some time now.
