We’re going to have to watch this subplot a while longer. Alvin Kamara and three other men pleaded not guilty to all charges in a battery case in Las Vegas on Thursday, and the trial was scheduled for this summer — during New Orleans Saints training camp.
Kamara’s attorney attempted to schedule it for June but was unable to find a trial date that worked for all parties. He and three others were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit battery and battery resulting in substantial bodily harm in a February 2022 beating outside a Las Vegas nightclub.
Kamara is scheduled to be back in court on July 31. Last year, Saints rookies reported for camp on July 19 with veterans like Kamara arriving a few days later, and their first team practice began on July 27. Practices open to fans started on July 30. That’s a typical schedule for New Orleans, so Kamara is going to miss some time during training camp dealing with his legal issues.
And an NFL suspension will likely follow regardless of the outcome. The league has a precedent of sidelining players for about six games whether or not they have been found guilty; violent charges like this are still a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. The Saints need to make moves at running back no matter Kamara’s availability, and being without him early in training camp and possibly for a month or more in the regular season gives any new additions plenty of time to make a good impression.
