Star running back Travis Etienne Jr. has landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury from the Week 3 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, forcing the New Orleans Saints to miss his services for at least four games as they prepare for prime-time action.
The Saints placed starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. on injured reserve on Thursday after he aggravated a hamstring injury in a 35-27 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders where he exited in the third quarter. The Saints (1-2) will host the Falcons (1-2) on Monday Night Football at the Caesars Superdome.
How Etienne Injured His Hamstring Against the Raiders
Etienne sustained the injury midway through the third quarter after breaking free for a 16-yard run. As a defender forced him toward the sideline, the running back immediately reached for his left hamstring. During the closing moments of Sunday afternoon’s defeat to the Raiders, Etienne slowed down abruptly on a rush attempt during the first down.
Head coach Kellen Moore confirmed that the issue involved the exact same leg that required monitoring earlier in the week. Following a successful bounce-back from a knee issue that wiped out his rookie campaign in 2021, he went on to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark in three out of the following four seasons playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Etienne Misses Four Games Before November Return
By moving to injured reserve, Etienne faces an mandatory absence of at least four games, keeping him sidelined through the Saints’ upcoming matchup on Monday Night Football
against the Atlanta Falcons. The recovery window also covers subsequent games, including a flight to New York and the league’s historic fixture in Paris, meaning the soonest he could return is a November 8 home game against the Cleveland Browns following the team’s bye week. Mike Triplett of New Orleans Football communicated on Monday that head coach Kellen Moore verified the running back is anticipated to sit out matches due to a hamstring problem.
“Travis will be time loss with the hammy. We’ll see ultimately what that timeline looks like.”
Kellen Moore, Head Coach
The transaction leaves Etienne as the leader in team rushing statistics up to this point, having recorded 30 carries for 128 rushing yards across three appearances. To fill the open 53-man roster spot, the organization signed wide receiver Kevin Austin off the practice squad. Having previously served as a temporary call-up for the opening three matches, Austin has accumulated one reception good for seven yards. The Saints also signed defensive end David Ojabo to the practice squad.
Backfield Options Behind the Sidelined Starter
With Etienne unavailable for the foreseeable future, coaching staff plans to lean on veteran depth to shoulder the ground game. Alvin Kamara, who recently restructured his contract to remain with the franchise for his 10th NFL season, is projected to command the primary share of touches alongside Kendre Miller and rookie CJ Donaldson. The three backs left in the running back room at the time included 10-year veteran Alvin Kamara, oft-injured Kendre Miller, and new addition CJ Donaldson. New Orleans also maintains 5th year man Zamir White on the practice squad, who could move up to the active roster, alongside Ulysses Bentley.
“Obviously fortunate for us, I think we have some guys who have played some football. I think Alvin and Kendre will handle that load really well, CJ has obviously found his specific role. We have some depth on practice squad as we navigate the next few weeks. I think we’re in a good place.”
Kellen Moore, Head Coach
The backfield changes arrive during a challenging stretch for the Saints’ roster health. Starting left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is a candidate to miss the remainder of the season following ankle surgery, while linebackers Pete Werner and Kaden Elliss also managed injuries during the opening practice of Week 4. Back in March, Etienne put pen to paper on a four-year agreement with his home-state franchise carrying a $47 million price tag and $24 million guaranteed upon execution, though alternative reports placed the overall value at $48 million or pointed to a $52 million unrestricted free agent pact.
