By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — There has been a lot of frustration from the New Orleans Saints fan base around second-year running back Kendre Miller, but it seems that some of the latest mistrust in his ability to stay healthy may be misplaced.
The 2023 third-round pick out of TCU has been the subject of criticism because of his injury history which includes a pair of hamstring ailments which have limited him to just 30 offensive snaps so far this year. But sources close to the situation tell LouisianaSports.Net that the recent decision to place Miller on Injured Reserve for a second time may have been premature and miscalculated.
Per the source, the original plan for the running back, who “tweaked” his hamstring against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8, was to proceed with caution and keep him out of last week’s Carolina Panthers matchup but ultimately have him return in Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons. That would have put Miller back on the field this upcoming weekend.
The back was instead placed on Injured Reserve, sparking frustration among the coaching staff who was confused as to why that would be necessary for such a minor injury. Apparently former Head Coach Dennis Allen “had a lot to do with it.” One source suggests a “lack of trust” in Miller’s ability to stay healthy may have been the driving force of Allen’s motivation.
The former head coach pulled no punches in displaying his displeasure with Miller’s availability during training camp. “(Miller’s) a player that’s going to have to figure out how to stay healthy,” he said during a post-practice media session. “Because it’s hard to make the team um you know when you’re in the training room all the time.”
Allen revisited this point of view in-season when he was asked about Miller’s understanding of the offense after returning to practice. “The biggest thing (about Miller) has been health.” he said. “is he available? Can he get out and practice? Can he get out and do some things? And you can’t really find out whether or not he knows the offense until he gets out and and starts practicing and and doing some things”
The hamstring injury that he suffered against the Chargers did not take place with the same hamstring that sidelined him throughout training camp and the beginning of the season.
For all intents and purposes, the feeling is that Miller is currently at 100% health and could be on the field immediately. However, his placement on Injured Reserve will hold him out until the team’s Dec. 8 game against the New York Giants.
One source suggests that a meeting recently took place between Interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi and Miller in which the coach expressed his desire to get Miller back out on the field as soon as he is eligible to return. From there the expectation will be “all gas, no breaks” for the running back.
This aligns with several of Rizzi’s post-practice media availability comments in which he shared multiple instances of having conversations and meetings with individual players.
When asked about the situation, Miller said that he has his own desires to prove that he can stay healthy and contribute to the team. He’s aware of the public’s perception of his health and injury concerns and wants a shot to prove those assumptions wrong.
The move may back frustrated coaching staff members, but Miller is certainly the most negatively impacted as the public sentiment has not been in his favor. But he is motivated to exonerate himself of the doubts and earn back the trust of the fans and anyone else that may have questions about his capacity to stay on the field and make plays.
These are unfortunate situations that take place in the NFL, especially when a team is dealing with a rash of injuries as abnormal as the Saints have dealt with this year. When roster spots become a premium, it can lead to some players losing opportunities that would otherwise be granted. Former wide receiver A.T. Perry expressed similar “shock” when he was waived from the roster in order to make space for an offensive lineman while New Orleans was struggling to keep its protection unit healthy.
Such situations are often the markings of an organization that is struggling to get its footing, which New Orleans is now confident it can correct after a week of massive change.
