Saints place Etienne on injured reserve; Kamara starts Monday night
The $52 million back aggravated his hamstring in the Raiders loss and must miss at least four games. The Falcons come to the Dome on Monday.
NEW ORLEANS: The Saints placed running back Travis Etienne Jr. on injured reserve Thursday because of a hamstring injury, sidelining their leading rusher for at least four games ahead of Monday night's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Etienne aggravated the hamstring Sunday in the 35-27 home-opening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Reuters. Coach Kellen Moore confirmed Etienne was headed to the injured reserve list, the Falcons Wire reported.
He leads the Saints with 30 carries for 128 rushing yards, plus 11 receptions on 13 targets for 51 yards.
Etienne signed with New Orleans in March on a reported four-year, $52 million contract after five seasons with Jacksonville, which drafted him 25th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Clemson. He missed his entire rookie season to injury, then rushed for 3,798 yards and 25 touchdowns and caught 168 passes for 1,338 yards and seven touchdowns in 66 regular-season games with the Jaguars.
Alvin Kamara steps in as the starter. The 31-year-old, a five-time Pro Bowl selection from 2017 to 2021, has 18 carries for 51 yards in two games this season after missing time in September with a knee injury. Across 128 games since 2017, Kamara has 1,692 carries for 7,301 yards and 61 touchdowns, with 612 catches for 4,960 yards and 25 scores.
The opponent is familiar. Kamara has 945 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 16 career games against the Falcons, the Falcons Wire reported.
Behind him on the depth chart are Kendre Miller, with 13 carries for 44 yards and one touchdown in two games, and rookie CJ Donaldson, with four carries for 11 yards in three games.
The backfield is not the only thin spot. Linebackers Kaden Elliss (calf) and Pete Werner (shoulder) missed Thursday's practice, as did edge rushers Carl Granderson (ankle) and Anfernee Jennings (knee), while tight end Noah Fant (abdomen) and safety Julian Blackmon (calf) were limited, according to the week's injury report.
New Orleans (1-2) hosts Atlanta (1-2) on Monday Night Football at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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