Rizzi: Saints starters still trying to return for season finale

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS — For a team that’s been eliminated for multiple weeks, the New Orleans Saints are sure getting a lot of buy-in from injured veterans.

Interim head coach Darren Rizzi met with New Orleans media on Monday and updated on the status of several injured players. While some are likely to miss the season finale Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, other key players are still trying to make their return despite the team having no postseason chances.

Quarterback Derek Carr, running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Chris Olave have made it no mystery that they want to be back for the final game if their health progress allows.

QB Derek Carr

Carr was given a  chance to run through a simulated game environment last week, but was not where the team wanted him to be in order to protect himself and get back to the lineup. Per Rizzi, the team will give Carr the chance to go through the same simulation early this week to see if he has improved enough to close out the season on the field rather than on the sideline. 

Wednesday’s practice is likely to be the benchmark to watch. If Carr is present for the first time in several weeks, it means he passed the testing the team put him through and would then be trending toward playing.

RB Alvin Kamara

“Alvin Kamara wants to play,” Rizzi said Monday of the star running back. It’s clear that Kamara is pushing to get back to the gridiron before the season comes to a close. Rizzi said that Kamara has been in the building “rehabbing three, four times a day.” That effort showcases the back’s intent to return if possible. Kamara is just 50 rushing yards shy of his first 1,000 rushing yard season.

WR Chris Olave

As for Olave, it sounds like he could indeed make his way back, as long as his conditioning allows. “He’s another guy that’s looking at me like, ‘Coach man, I want to get back,’” Rizzi said. “So we’ll see where he is Wednesday, Thursday and we’ll keep that door open.”

It is a pretty glaring sentiment that these players, who would lose nothing by remaining out for the final game, are at least showing an intent to return instead. While there’s nothing left to play for from the perspective of the postseason, it’s clear that there’s a desire to compete as a team with so much uncertainty ahead.

LB Jaylan Ford

As for some not-so-positive injury news, rookie Ford will be out for the remainder of the season with a lower leg injury that will require surgery, Rizzi announced. The diagnosis so far is a fibula fracture, but there could be ligament damage as well that would impact Ford’s recovery timeline, something the Saints will have more information on soon.

RB Kendre Miller

Miller is in concussion protocol after being pulled from the game and checked in the loss against the Las Vegas Raiders. “We’ll see where he shows up (Tuesday),” Rizzi said.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Valdes-Scantling went down after a big hit against the Raiders, but sounds to be okay. Rizzi called the situation a “re-aggravation” of his previous injury but said that the wideout “checked out pretty good” on Monday.

DE Payton Turner

Turner is dealing with an ankle injury. Rizzi said that the next 48 hours will give more information on where that injury stands. Turner is in the final year of his rookie deal and has struggled with injuries in the past. But this season has been a solid one for him regarding availability.

TE Taysom Hill

Hill’s surgery went well, Rizzi confirmed Monday. “I got all double-thumbs up with the surgery,” he said. “There were no complications.” Rizzi said that Hill is expected to make a full recovery following a scary knee injury against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. 

“He’s projected to make a full recovery and all that,” Rizzi said. “He’s got a great attitude about playing again and wanting to come back and doing all those things.”