This is tough. The New Orleans Saints announced that key defenders Marcus Maye and Malcolm Roach are going to injured reserve on Wednesday, meaning they won’t be able to return until the regular season finale, if at all. Players must sit out at least four games on injured reserve before being eligible to return. Maye has been their best option at free safety, while Roach is an active presence at defensive tackle.
It’s possible they’re both too banged up to return this year if the Saints don’t make the playoffs. Roach is dealing with a knee injury he suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions, while Maye is going to miss time recovering from a shoulder issue that’s sidelined him in recent weeks. Roach is likely undergoing surgery. It’s a tough break for him with free agency on the horizon — he had played his best season in the NFL this year. He had more tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage than any other Saints defensive tackle.
As for Maye: availability has always been the concern for him. He was limited to just 10 games last season with rib and shoulder injuries. A suspension cost him three games this year, and he’ll have appeared in only 7 games all told, though it’s unclear if this is the same shoulder. He’ll be entering the final year of his contract in 2024 and the Saints will need to make a decision on whether to keep him around.
