Key players may return after the bye week

The New Orleans Saints (4-7) have a much-needed bye this week. The Saints they said goodbye in style, winning their last two games after a seven-game losing streak that led to the sacking of Dennis Allen.

When the Saints return to action, they will host the Los Angeles Rams at home on Sunday, December 1. New Orleans it may also get back a few players who have been absent from action for several weeks.

The three players who definitely won’t return until Week 13 are wingers Chris Olave, Bub meansand run back Kendra Miller. All are on injured reserve but will not be eligible to return yet.

Once a player is placed on injured reserve, he or she must remain out for a minimum of four games, NOT weeks, before returning. Olave, who has struggled with consecutive concussions, was placed on injured reserve after the Week 9 game against Carolina and will be eligible to return after the Week 14 contest against the New York Giants.

Means and Miller were placed on injured reserve following a Week 8 loss to the Chargers. Because the bye week does not count against IR absences, each will be eligible to return after Sunday’s Rams game.

Olave, Miller and Means will be sidelined for at least another week or two and will continue to be key absences. However, the Saints could still get some welcome additions to the lineup when they face the Rams.

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Erick McCoy and Lucas Patrick

Starting with the left back Łukasz Patrick missed the last two games with an ankle injury. Patrick has missed four of the last six contests, playing on the interior offensive line, due to injury.

Center Erik McCoy returned last week in a win over Cleveland after missing seven straight games and most of a loss to Philadelphia in Week 3.

McCoy played just over half of the Saints’ offensive snaps before leaving the field aggravating the groin injury which caused him to miss over two months. Some reports indicated that McCoy was allowed to return, but was held as a precaution. The next 10 days should tell us whether this was indeed the case.

If Both McCoy and Patrick back in action against the Rams, each will certainly be a welcome and much-needed addition. This will also be the first time since the third snap in Week 3 that New Orleans’ starting offensive line will be fully intact.

Jamaal Williams

A weak offensive line had a negative impact on both the Saints’ passing attack and running game. Alvin Kamara is having a career year, but with his defense intact, he should be even more effective. His versatility will be even more lethal with additional help from the back.

Running back Jamaal Williams he has missed the last three appearances with a groin injury. Williams is a durable running back who has 32 carries for 124 yards and is averaging 3.9 per rush on the season. He wasn’t very effective, but without him and Kendra Miller, New Orleans’ offense was extremely limited, especially considering their defensive options.

No NFL team has been hit harder by injuries this season than the New Orleans Saints. This is especially noticeable on the offensive side. They will still be without several key pieces against the Rams. Namely, Olave and fellow WR Rashid Shaheed are out for a year after knee surgery.

However, slowly but surely, the Saints are getting healthier. Already riding the momentum of two straight wins, another win against the Rams and the return of more players could give New Orleans at least an outside chance in the NFC South in the penultimate stage.