Saints minicamp: Player-by-player reports on injury list | Sports

Head coach Dennis Allen said Thursday that the Saints expect nearly all of their players to be available for training camp, which begins in late July.

A handful of players missed the team’s offseason practices while recovering from offseason medical procedures, including receiver Michael Thomas, offensive linebackers Trevor Penning and Cesar Ruiz and rookie running back Kendall. Miller, but Allen said he expects training camp participation to be close to 100 percent.

“As we sit here right now, there’s a player who might be questionable at the start of training camp, and I’m optimistic he’ll be ready,” Allen said. “(Otherwise) I feel good, we’ll get everyone healthy and ready to go (camping).”

Allen declined to name players whose status remains uncertain. Anthony Johnson, an undrafted rookie defensive back from Virginia, recently missed practice with an injury. He was recently seen at the Saints facility on crutches.

Here are the latest on the Saints’ other injuries:

michael thomas

All signs point to the veteran wide receiver being ready to start training camp. Thomas hasn’t practiced since dislocating his toe in Week 3 of last season against the Carolina Panthers. He recently had surgery to remove the hardware from the surgically repaired joint.

Allen said the Saints have scheduled Thomas’ rehab so that he’s ready to return to practice when training camp begins. Thomas recently said that so far, his recovery is progressing ahead of schedule.

In recent practices, Thomas played alongside the Saints quarterback, running routes and receiving the ball without defenders on the floor. He moves fluidly without any apparent limitations.

Chris Olaf

The second-year receiver missed Thursday’s Saints final minicamp practice with an Achilles injury, Allen said. Allen said the injury “wasn’t something we were worried about”.

Olaf watched the second half of Thursday’s training session from the sidelines, his right foot thickly taped.

The second-year receiver from Ohio State was one of the standouts in offseason practice and has developed a quick rapport with new quarterback Derek Carr.

Dennis Allen says Chris Olaf had a bit of Achilles inflammation today, but they’re not worried

— Kathleen Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) June 15, 2023

trevor penning

The second-year tackle is scheduled to undergo surgery Friday in Birmingham, Alabama, to remove hardware from his surgically repaired foot. Penning injured Lisfranc in the Saints’ season-ending loss to Carolina in January and underwent surgery to repair the injury.

Penning, who is expected to start at left tackle, participated in the Saints’ offseason practice but did not practice. Veteran James Hurst and third-year linebacker Landon Young worked in his place with the first-team offense.

Cesar Ruiz

Like Penning, Ruiz is scheduled to undergo surgery Friday to remove hardware from his surgically repaired foot, which will put him on the same recovery schedule as training camp begins.

Ruiz was injured during the Saints’ Week 15 game against the Atlanta Falcons. On December 20, he was placed on injured reserve.

Ruiz has not trained since the injury. He will start at right guard this season as he enters the final year of his contract with the Saints.

Kendall Miller

The rookie running back from Christian, Texas, hasn’t practiced since the Saints selected him in the third round of the NFL draft. In December, he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the Horned Frogs’ college football playoff semifinal game against Michigan.

Miller participated in the offseason practice, but did not participate in the practice. He said during rookie minicamp last month that he plans to return to the field when training camp begins.

Miller is expected to provide depth to veterans Alvin Kamara and Jamal Williams in the Saints backcourt, but with Kamara potentially facing suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, his Roles can be greatly expanded.

Nick Saldiviri

The rookie offensive lineman missed most of the team’s offseason practices due to a calf injury. Allen said the injury was not serious, but it did keep Saldivari out of training with the team over the past few weeks.

The former Old Dominion standout is expected to contend for a backup spot on the interior offensive line. The Saints signed veteran linebacker Billy Price on Thursday to bolster depth at the position.

Rashid Shahid

The second-year receiver is new to this week’s injury report after suffering a minor groin injury, according to Allen. Shahid missed the Saints’ final few practices with the injury, but sources said the injury was not serious.

The Saints added veteran receivers Lynn Bowden and Kirk Cutie to the roster this week to bolster depth at the position. Bowden and Coutee are also expected to compete with Shaheed in punts and kickoff returns.

others

Johnson, running back Eno Benjamin and tight end Miller Forestall also missed the game with unspecified injuries. Benjamin is vying for a backup spot in the backfield behind Kamara, Williams and Miller. Benjamin and Forrestal sat out most of the club’s offseason practices. Forristall, a third-year tight end from Alabama, is trying to earn a roster spot behind front line tight ends Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill.