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By Jayesh Pagar
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For five straight games, the New Orleans Saints have tried to run the ball without their top weapon.
Drives stalled early, the ground game went quiet, and quarterback Tyler Shough was left to carry too much of the load.
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Things finally looked brighter last Sunday. New Orleans beat the Cleveland Browns 23-22 in overtime for its first home win of the season. Now 3-5, the Saints got the kind of news on Saturday that could change how they attack the Carolina Panthers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared the update on X, a day before Carolina visits the Caesars Superdome.
“Saints activated RB Travis Etienne off injured reserve, and he is expected to play Sunday against Carolina.” Schefter wrote.
Saints fans have waited for this since late September. Etienne hurt his left hamstring in the Week 3 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and went on injured reserve a few days later.
Head coach Kellen Moore did not want to rush it. Speaking to reporters on Monday, as relayed by Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune, Moore kept his answer simple.
“We’ll see. He’s progressing well. We’ll gather some more information and make a decision,” Moore said.
Etienne returned to practice two days later. By Saturday, the Saints had seen enough.
That matters for a team that went all in on him. Etienne was one of New Orleans’ biggest free-agent signings in March. The Louisiana native left the Jacksonville Jaguars to come home and lead Moore’s backfield.
He only got three games. In that time, he ran 30 times for 128 yards and caught 11 passes for 51 yards. He is still looking for his first touchdown in black and gold.
Without him, the run game has struggled. Alvin Kamara has 157 yards on 47 carries this year, about 3.3 yards per carry. In a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the whole team ran for just 18 yards.
Etienne brings the burst this offense has missed. He topped 1,000 rushing yards in three of his last four seasons in Jacksonville, and he gives Shough a reliable outlet out of the backfield.
The Saints swept Carolina last season and have won their last three home games against them. Now they get their lead back in time for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff on FOX.
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