Just a little over a month after the Saints and Alvin Kamara came to terms on a new contract, the star running back suffered an injury that’s going to sideline him for a significant period of time.
Kamara suffered an MCL sprain during a joint practice with the Cowboys on Tuesday and is expected to miss at least one month, ESPN reported Wednesday.
The Worldwide Leader said Kamara, 31, ended up under a pile of players after trying to execute a run play. He exited practice at that point and did not come back.
The Saints open the regular season on Sept. 13 against the Lions, so if Kamara does sit out one month, he’d at least miss the first game of the season.
In Kamara’s place, former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne would likely see the bulk of the carries. Etienne signed a four-year, $52 million deal this offseason after rushing for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns last year for Jacksonville.
Behind Kamara and Etienne, New Orleans has five other running backs, including veteran backups Ty Chandler and Kendre Miller.
Kamara’s offseason was a roller coaster, as retirement rumors swirled in the wake of the Saints bringing in the talented Etienne.
Kamara, in July, came to terms on a reworked contract that will pay him $6 million for this season, ESPN reported.
The five-time Pro Bowler would like to finish his career where he started, according to his agent.
“Alvin’s goal, and the team’s goal, was for him to remain with the Saints and retire a Saint,” agent Brad Cicala told NFL Network after the deal was completed.
