Saints Hit with Bad News Before Seahawks Clash: Key Player Out??
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The New Orleans Saints are already making tough calls ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, and one of them involves a key piece of their offensive front. Left guard Dillon Radunz has officially been ruled out, and it’s not even game day yet. Radunz missed Thursday’s practice with a toe injury, and while it doesn’t appear serious enough to land him on injured reserve, he won’t suit up this weekend.
That’s not ideal for a Saints offensive line that’s already dealing with its fair share of uncertainty. Trevor Penning, who’s been sidelined since the preseason, managed limited participation in both practices this week.
He’s trending in the right direction, but nothing’s guaranteed. And with Radunz already out, the Saints are walking a thin line up front.
This is where things get dicey. Cesar Ruiz has had a rough go at right guard, and there was some buzz-at least among fans-about the possibility of Radunz staying in the starting lineup even after Penning returned.
That’s off the table now. If Penning can’t go Sunday, the Saints could find themselves without three of their top six offensive linemen when they face a Seahawks defensive front that includes the ever-disruptive Leonard Williams.
That’s a problem.
As for the rest of the injury report, things didn’t get much better on Thursday. Wide receiver Trey Palmer (hamstring) was downgraded after going from limited Wednesday to a DNP (did not participate) on Thursday.
That’s usually a red flag-it often hints at a setback or a more serious issue than initially thought. Nothing official yet, but it’s something to watch closely.
Devaughn Vele (hip) also saw his practice workload scaled back. He was a full participant Wednesday but limited on Thursday.
That’s another one to monitor. Vele’s only caught two passes in his young career so far, but both moved the chains-one for a first down, the other for a touchdown.
He’s already shown he can make the most of his opportunities, and the Saints would miss that spark if he’s not able to go.
Elsewhere, right tackle Taliese Fuaga (knee/back) and edge rusher Chase Young (calf) remained sidelined. Neither practiced Thursday, and while Fuaga is pushing hard to return, it would be a surprise to see either active on Sunday. The Saints are clearly trying to manage his workload, but availability is still a big question mark.
We’ll get a clearer picture when Friday’s final injury report drops, but for now, the Saints are staring down a potentially shorthanded lineup in a game that could hinge on control in the trenches. Seattle’s defensive line doesn’t need much help causing havoc, and if the Saints can’t shore up protection, it could be a long day for their offense.
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