New Orleans Saints suffer a massive loss in the middle of their miraculous comeback victory over the Baltimore Ravens
The New Orleans Saints have lost one of their best offensive linemen at the worst possible time, with the No. 2 passing offense in the NFL humming through the first two weeks of the season.
The New Orleans Saints are coming off an incredible upset road victory against the Baltimore Ravens, but they return home with bad news.
Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. suffered a “severe” high ankle sprain according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. Banks is expected to undergo surgery and will soon be placed on Injured Reserve.
Banks has a chance to return sometime this season, but New Orleans will soon be without one of its best offensive linemen for the foreseeable future, and the timing couldn’t be worse following such an inspiring road victory.
Saints’ passing attack was just hitting its stride
The Saints own the No. 2 passing offense in the NFL through two weeks, trailing only division rival Carolina in total net passing yardage. Tyler Shough’s 662 passing yards are the second-most for a Saints quarterback through two games since Drew Brees threw for 669 to start the 2009 Super Bowl season.
Sunday’s comeback win over Baltimore was set to be a catalyst for New Orleans, coupled with an ascending passing game that doesn’t even have rookie Jordyn Tyson on the field yet. Wide receiver Chris Olave, who was dealing with a hamstring injury leading up to the weekend, is now second in the NFL in receiving yards with 268 after putting up 86 in Baltimore. Everything was going right for the Saints despite the injuries they had already been dealing with.
Banks’ high ankle sprain is another obstacle for them to overcome.
Asim Richards steps in at left tackle
Banks went down after 40 snaps during Sunday’s game, and Asim Richards came in for him at LT. Richards has been with the Saints since last year, when he appeared in nine games and made four starts at right tackle. He allowed a hit and a hurry on Shough in 15 pass blocking snaps against the Ravens.
Barring an unexpected roster move, Richards is the player New Orleans will trust to protect Shough’s blindside for the next several weeks, if not months, while Banks begins his road to recovery.
It’s not the news Who Dat Nation wanted to hear following such an awesome comeback victory, but it’s the reality the Saints are now facing
