Thursday’s injury report update has a mixed bag for the New Orleans Saints as they prepare for Week 9’s game with the Carolina Panthers. A couple of players were upgraded to full reps, which is positive, but three of their four cornerbacks missed practice.
Marshon Lattimore and Kool-Aid McKinstry are both dealing with hamstring injuries; Lattimore exited last week’s loss late, and he’s been managing this issue for a while. McKinstry practiced on a limited basis Wednesday but wasn’t able to go Thursday. And rookie corner Rico Payton has a back injury.
That leaves Alontae Taylor as the only full-time cornerback on the 53-man roster who practiced Thursday. Practice squad corners Shemar Jean-Charles and Tre Herndon were both available, but guys like Ugo Amadi, a safety with experience covering the slot, probably had to help them fill out rotations in practice.
It’s far from an ideal scenario, even against a bad passing attack like Carolina’s. Bryce Young is still an NFL quarterback and he has pro receivers to throw to. The Saints’ depth chart is being stretched to its limit. We’ll have to wait and see if Friday’s injury report has more good news than bad.
