New Orleans sits at 4-7 after their bye week.
The New Orleans Saints are 4-7 after their bye week placing them third in the NFC South. After the Saints started the season hot going 2-0, they would drop seven in a row in one of the worst losing streaks in recent team history. While the season has been disappointing, promising showings from young players and important changes have kept the season alive.
Up: Alvin Kamara
Running back Alvin Kamara has grown into the leader of the locker room since the retirement of quarterback Drew Brees. Kamara, who has recently earned the captain role mid-way through the season, often speaks out holding players accountable and pointing out the flaws in the team. Along with his rise as a team leader, the five-time Pro Bowler has had an explosive season and is on track for the best rushing season of his career. Through 11 games Kamara has rushed for 782 yards and 6 touchdowns while averaging 4.3 yards a carry. The versatile back has also added 443 yards and a touchdown as a receiver.
Kamara avoided any controversy while working towards a contract that would keep him a Saint for the rest of his career and the veteran back only preached his love for the city throughout. While giving a running back a third contract is unpopular, Kamara has earned his extension at 29 years old and continues to be one of the team’s leaders.
The carry that made history. Alvin Kamara is up to a Saints record 6,509 rushing yards (and still counting)
FOX pic.twitter.com/cwxS8iItGj
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 10, 2024
Up: Trevor Penning
The most pleasant surprise from the 2024 season was the positive development of tackle Trevor Penning. Penning was given the starting nod at left tackle during the 2023 season and struggled tremendously which ultimately led to his benching. The Saints remained committed to Penning, who was seen as a project player from the start, but he was being exploited by opposing defenses so often that the team couldn’t justify starting him. Penning would be given the opportunity to start at right tackle in 2024 with rookie Taliese Fuaga getting the left tackle job. Penning’s struggles continued at the start of the season but were masked by Klint Kubiak’s gameplan. During the week three matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Saints lost Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy due to injury and the offensive line started to get shifted around making it more difficult to hide Penning’s flaws. But for Penning, this was just his opportunity to prove himself. The third-year tackle has performed as one of the best run-blocking tackles in the league and has majorly improved his pass-blocking. Penning’s recent development may have saved him another year of starting as the Saints can look towards the draft for other needs.
Trevor Penning has become one of the 5 best run blocking right tackles in football this season. He’d also be my favorite for unofficial leader in pancakes pic.twitter.com/lpsrkE4XJx
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) November 18, 2024
Down: Receiving corps
The Saints have struggled to find depth in the receiver room in recent seasons and that flaw has shined during the 2024 season. New Orleans lost their two promising young wideouts Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed for the year and the rise of rookie Bub Means was cut short after he was placed on the injured reserve. The Saints have just three receivers on their roster highlighted by newly signed veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling. While Scantling has been a promising surprise for the offense, the team desperately needs more wideouts who can make an impact. With contracts due soon for Olave and Shaheed, the Saints will have to look toward the draft to add another playmaker who can stay healthy.
Down: Injuries
Same story, different season. The Saints have struggled with injuries year in and year out, often having one of the longest weekly injury reports in the NFL. There’s been a plethora of starting players who have missed significant time due to injury. The offense has been the main victim of the injury bug losing players such as Derek Carr, Erik McCoy, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Cesar Ruiz. While the Saints’ seven-game losing streak can’t be fully blamed on the injuries they’ve suffered, the season started to derail after the loss of center Erik McCoy.
New Orleans started getting players back from injury in November and was on a two-game winning streak heading into the bye. There were of course other circumstances that have led to the team returning to adding to their win column again, but unfortunately, injuries have made a dent in what was looking like a promising season for the Saints.
Make sure you follow Canal Street Chronicles on Twitter at @SaintsCSC, “Like” us on Facebook at Canal Street Chronicles, and make sure you’re subscribed to our new YouTube channel