The New Orleans Saints will be shorthanded during Sunday’s upcoming rivalry matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Head coach Kellen Moore confirmed that several key players have been ruled out due to injuries, according to reports from Yahoo Sports.
The team will be without two starting offensive linemen, center Erik McCoy and right tackle Taliese Fuaga.
McCoy is dealing with a bicep injury, while Fuaga is sidelined with a knee issue.
The Saints also confirmed that rookie running back CJ Donaldson and second-round defensive lineman Christen Miller will miss the game.
Donaldson is nursing a shoulder injury, and Miller is out with a knee problem, noted Saints Wire.
The offensive line depth has been tested recently, as the team managed only three quarters of play with their starting five before McCoy was injured last week.
Fuaga subsequently suffered a knee sprain during practice sessions.
Moore stated that Fuaga is not expected to be placed on injured reserve, though the outlook for McCoy remains less certain.
Additional players remain questionable for the Sunday contest as the team monitors their health status closely.
Running back Travis Etienne Jr. is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, while cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. is also under observation.
The final status of these players will be confirmed when the official inactives list is published on Sunday morning.
The Saints look to navigate these personnel challenges as they prepare to take on their divisional rivals.
The team has been forced to shuffle their roster configuration to account for the absences on both sides of the ball.
Fans and analysts alike are awaiting further updates on the recovery timelines for the sidelined starters.
The coaching staff remains focused on preparing the active roster for the upcoming challenges presented by the Carolina Panthers.
Further information regarding the team’s depth chart adjustments will be revealed during the pregame activities.