Fantasy Injury News

Posted September 3, 2026 at 4:15 PM ET

Kamara Still Sidelined, Timeline Points Past Week 1

Alvin Kamara was held out of practice again on Thursday as he continues to work back from the MCL sprain he suffered during joint practices with the Cowboys on August 19. Per beat reporters, the Saints are viewing the injury as at least a month-long absence, which puts New Orleans’ September 7 opener against the Lions squarely in jeopardy and puts even the Week 2 trip to Baltimore in question. There’s no indication Kamara needs surgery, but the club has been cautious with him all camp, and Thursday’s non-participation is another sign this is a proper sprain rather than a minor tweak.

Fantasy Impact: Etienne and Miller Set to Split Early Work

New Orleans already reshaped this backfield before the injury by signing Travis Etienne Jr. away from Jacksonville in free agency, and his role only grows with Kamara out. Expect Etienne to open the season as the clear early-down and likely goal-line option, with Kendre Miller and Devin Neal rotating in behind him for change-of-pace and passing-down snaps — the same duo the team has already been leaning on during camp while managing Kamara’s workload. Fantasy managers who drafted Kamara as a bell-cow should now treat him as a touchdown-dependent flex at best whenever he does return, and Etienne climbs into RB2/flex streaming range for Week 1 lineups in most formats. Miller and Neal are speculative adds in deeper PPR leagues purely as handcuffs to a suddenly crowded room.

Bigger Picture in New Orleans

The timing compounds an already difficult camp for the Saints’ offense — rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson is also dealing with a hamstring issue that’s expected to keep him out for roughly two months. At 31 and coming off a down 2025 (657 scrimmage yards, one touchdown in 11 games), Kamara was already ticketed for a smaller role behind Etienne even before this setback. This looks like it could be just the second time in his career he opens a season on the sideline, and fantasy drafters should be prepared to see him fall outside the top 30 running backs on draft boards until he’s practicing in full again.