New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara did not practice on Wednesday due to injuries in his hip and rib, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. He landed on the Saints injury report for the first time this season.
Kamara was one of four Saints players to not participate in practice on Wednesday. Cornerback Alontae Taylor (illness), linebacker Demario Davis (hamstring), and offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz (knee) also did not practice.
Linebacker D’Marco Jackson (calf), defensive tackle, Khalen Saunders (calf), and tackle Landon Young (foot) were limited participants, while tight end Taysom Hill (chest) and quarterback Derek Carr (left groin) participated in full.
The injury to Kamara comes ahead of the Saints’ Week 4 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, their NFC South division rival. With every team in the NFC South either 1-2 or 2-1, these divisional games should prove crucial to who wins the division at the end of the season.
Kamara has played a significant role in the Saints’ unexpected success through the first three weeks of the season. Kamara has helped the Saints begin the year ranked second in points per game and sixth in rushing offense.
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Through three weeks, Kamara has carried the ball 61 times for 285 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry He has also caught 10 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. He has had a resurgent start to the year, after rushing for just five touchdowns in 2023, and only two in 2022.
Kamara ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards and is tied with Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Kyren Williams for first in the league in rushing touchdowns. He had by far his best performance in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, rushing 20 times for 115 yards and three touchdowns while going for 65 yards and another touchdown through the air on two receptions.
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Kamara did not see the same success against the Philadelphia Eagles, who held him to 3.3 yards per carry in Week 3. If Kamara is able to play in Week 4, he will have a much more advantageous matchup in the Falcons run defense. The Falcons run defense ranks sixth-last in the NFL, allowing an average of 150.3 rushing yards per game.
If Kamara is unable to go, the Saints will likely rely on running back Jamaal Williams. Williams has 20 carries for 76 yards and one touchdown so far this season.
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