The New Orleans Saints got a closer look at their running back depth sooner than expected in Week 1, with star runner Alvin Kamara escorted to the locker room by a member of the training staff late in the fourth quarter. Veteran backup Mark Ingram II stepped in for a couple of possessions to relieve Kamara, including a bizarre direct-snap play on an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt that got snuffed out by the Atlanta Falcons defense. It’s the sort of creative play that we’ve come to expect from Kamara; in his absence, Ingram filled in, but their different skills sets didn’t quite mesh in the situation.
So what was keeping Kamara away? Saints coach Dennis Allen said Monday afternoon that Kamara was “dealing with a little bit of a rib” issue after exiting Sunday’s win against the Falcons in the closing minutes, though he added that “I think he’s going to be fine.”
Kamara did tell NewOrleans.Footbll’s Nick Underhill in the locker room postgame that he’s “good” despite the injury, so it sounds like this isn’t anything serious. We’ll know for sure once the first Saints injury report is published this week on Wednesday, which will give us an idea of Kamara’s participation level in practice. Before leaving the game, Kamara racked up 39 rushing yards on 9 carries (4.3 yards per attempt) and 7 receiving yards on 3 receptions (4 targets), totaling 46 scrimmage yards and two first down conversions on a dozen touches.
As for the current state of the depth chart: Kamara is backed up by Ingram and Tony Jones Jr., with veteran special teams ace Dwayne Washington also in the mix. Washington didn’t practice last week or suit up for the Falcons game due to a hamstring injury so it’s unclear what his availability looks like in the immediate future. Everything the Saints have said publicly suggests Kamara will be ready for his usual workload in Week 2’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but this is certainly a storyline to watch in the days ahead.
