Any time you’re facing the Minnesota Vikings defense, you want all hands on deck. That’s why the latest Alvin Kamara injury update is a major win for the New Orleans Saints heading into a big Week 5 matchup.

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Saints star running back Alvin Kamara is expected to play against the Vikings. Kamara has been dealing with a back injury that kept him out of practice Wednesday. He then turned in limited sessions Thursday and Friday.

Kamara’s status for this weekend was up in the air for most of the week. Now it sounds like he should be good to go. We still don’t know what his snap count will look like, or whether he’ll be limited or a full go once the game kicks off.

Alvin Kamara’s return is a huge boon for the Saints offense against a tough Vikings defense

Regardless, getting Kamara back on the field is a big deal for New Orleans. The Saints are already without starting running back Travis Etienne Jr., who landed on injured reserve earlier in the season.

Kendre Miller has had some good performances over the years. However, he simply isn’t the starting-caliber running back that Etienne, or even Alvin Kamara, provides. Losing two backs at once would have put a lot of pressure on an offense that needs balance to function. UDFA rookie CJ Donaldson is the only other running back in the mix, as the Saints declined to elevate a running back from the practice squad heading into the Vikings matchup.

The Vikings have been pretty good against the run this year, and they’ll still present a major challenge for Kamara. At the same time, his dual-threat ability gives New Orleans a viable option in both the running and passing game. That versatility could help throw the Minnesota defense off track enough for Tyler Shough and the rest of the Saints offense to find success.

Alvin Kamara doesn’t need to rip off 150 yards on the ground for this to work. If he can keep the Vikings honest as a runner and give the Saints a reliable outlet in the passing game, that alone changes how Minnesota has to call the game.

The Vikings have injury questions of their own

The Kamara news looks even better for the Saints when you check the other sideline. It remains to be seen whether Vikings star receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will suit up this weekend.

Per Rapoport, both Jefferson and Addison are true game-time decisions. Jefferson is dealing with an ankle injury, while Addison is working through a hamstring injury.

Jefferson said throughout the week that he’ll do everything he can to play in this game. It carries extra meaning for him, since he’s back in Louisiana and it’s a homecoming game.

The Vikings, however, have to think long term with their top receiver. Minnesota is 4-0, and it could stand to rest Jefferson a little longer than usual because one loss wouldn’t hurt the Vikings too badly at this point in the season.

If New Orleans gets Kamara back while Minnesota plays without one or both of its top pass catchers, the Saints suddenly look a lot more competitive on paper. That doesn’t guarantee anything against a 4-0 team, but it does tilt the matchup a bit closer to even.

The injury news is trending in the Saints’ favor when you look at both sides of the coin. Now it’s about New Orleans taking advantage of that momentum and seeing if it can turn into a big win in Week 5.