The New Orleans Saints are set to welcome back Chase Young as he makes his season debut against the New England Patriots this Sunday. Young had to sit out the first five games of the season due to a calf injury sustained during the preseason. On Wednesday, he returned to practice, and by Friday was a full participant, indicating he didn’t have any real lasting effects. His return should further improve the unit’s defensive front, as it’ll give them a big-time shot of depth to this group.
Saints coach Kellen Moore shared an optimistic update on Young’s status, saying his return would provide a significant boost to the Saints’ approach defensively. “Just more depth. Obviously with Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan taking a ton of reps, getting Chase in there will help that rotation a little bit,” Moore stated. The inclusion of Young will allow the team to maintain a fresh rotation among their defensive players, crucial for facing the Patriots.
Besides Young’s return, running back Alvin Kamara has been cleared for Sunday’s matchup. Despite having some ankle soreness mid-week, he comes into the game free of any injury label. This news is a sigh of relief for the Saints, as they have been dependent on Kamara’s dual-threat capabilities thus far in 2023.
And others are quickly following him into the ranks of the healthy. With week one right around the corner, offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz, tight end Juwan Johnson, and offensive tackle Trevor Penning all practiced in full on Friday. They’re just getting ready to hit the field this weekend! Their group contributions—that’s going to be huge if we want to play well against New England.
Not all injury updates are positive. Defensive back Isaac Yiadom will miss his second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury. This absence would severely limit the team’s depth on the secondary.
The Saints are just 14th in the league for sacks on this season. Carl Granderson is pacing the club and having a breakout year, he’s got a whopping 4.5 sacks! The possible return of Young should raise these numbers further, as he provides some of the most effective pressure on opposing QBs in the league.
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