Saints' Kendre Miller: Out for at least four games
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Miller (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a designation to return.
Miller is ineligible for the first four games of the regular season after missing most of training camp and all three of the Saints' preseason games. Coach Dennis Allen has been critical of the running back's injury problems to this point in his career, but the Saints may nonetheless give their 2023 third-round pick a chance to show what he can do if/when he stays healthy for more than a few weeks at a time. For now, Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams top the depth chart at running back, with Taysom Hill also expected to take some carries.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Will start on IR
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Miller (hamstring) has been placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, which will force him to miss at least the first four games of the year, Sean Fazende of Fox 8 New Orleans reports.
Miller hasn't yet resumed practicing since suffering a hamstring injury at the very beginning of training camp, so it's not much of a surprise that he'll be unavailable for the start of the regular season. That could provide Jordan Mims, who led the Saints in rushing yards this preseason, a clearer path to a spot on the 53-man roster. Once officially placed on IR, Miller's first opportunity to return to action will come in Week 5 against Kansas City.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Remains out for preseason finale
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Miller (hamstring) did not play in Sunday's 30-27 preseason loss to the Titans.
Miller has now missed all three preseason games for the Saints since suffering a hamstring injury July 24. With his absence now extending about a full month, it appears likely that the 2023 third-rounder could start the regular season on IR. His case was not helped by the fact that New Orleans' starters did not play Sunday, allowing backup running backs Jordan Mims and Jacob Kibodi to combine for 17 rushes for 92 yards while taking the bulk of the team's carries. Even if Miller is not placed on IR for the first four games, his lack of availability may mean he'll vie for the third running back spot behind Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: May begin season on IR
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Miller (hamstring) may be placed on injured reserve to start the season, which would rule him out for the first four games, Jeff Nowak of The Big 870 New Orleans reports.
Placing Miller on IR would allow the Saints to keep him around without dedicating a 53-man roster spot on a young player that hasn't practiced at all this summer. The 2023 third-round pick had issues with his knee, hamstring and ankle as a rookie, and he's now been sidelined by another hamstring injury since making an early exit from the first practice of training camp. Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams are likely to open the season atop the depth chart at running back, with the No. 3 role likely going to either Jordan Mims, James Robinson or a post-cutdown addition. Saints head coach Dennis Allen has been critical of Miller's struggles to stay healthy this summer, removing much of the luster from a young back that was a popular sleeper pick for fantasy not long ago.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Remains out in preseason game No. 2
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Miller (hamstring) did not play in Sunday's 16-10 preseason loss to the 49ers.
Miller has now missed each of the Saints' first two preseason games since injury his hamstring in late July. The 2023 third-round pick's continued absence has drawn increasing pressure from coach Dennis Allen, who reiterated Friday that it will be "challenging" for the running back to make the team if he's not practicing. While it's unlikely the team will move on from Miller this early in his career, he could certainly lose out on his opportunity to win the No. 2 running back spot over veteran Jamaal Williams this preseason. The 22-year-old Miller will look to get healthy in time for this coming Sunday's preseason finale versus the Titans.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Unable to make case for a role
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Miller (hamstring) still isn't practicing, and coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that it's "challenging" and "hasn't gotten easier" for the running back to make the team without practicing, Patrick Magee of the New Orleans Advocate reports.
Allen essentially doubled down on his comments from late July, when he was asked about Miller and told reporters, "it's hard to make the team from the training room." The Saints are unlikely to actually cut a 22-year-old that they took in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but there's no denying the criticism has dampened Miller's fantasy outlook for the upcoming season, with thoughts of forcing a timeshare/committee replaced by concerns the young RB might be stuck behind both Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams. Miller was recovering from an MCL injury when the Saints drafted him last spring, and he then suffered a minor knee sprain in mid-August and a hamstring injury a few weeks later. After that, a high-ankle sprain kept him out for seven straight games in November/December before he returned for Week 18 and took 13 carries for 73 yards and a TD. Miller's performance in the season finale led to optimism in fantasy circles, but much of that seems to have faded since he suffered a hamstring injury during the first practice of training camp and was subsequently criticized by Allen. Miller has now missed more than three weeks of practice and is about to miss a second straight preseason game.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Leading rusher in Week 18 win
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Miller posted 13 rushes for 73 yards and one touchdown and caught his only target for six yards during Sunday's 48-17 win over the Falcons.
Miller made the most of his first game since the Week 9 win against Chicago, as he logged season highs across the board to go along with the first rushing touchdown of his career. The Saints were without starting running back Alvin Kamara (ankle), who was inactive. As a result, the team turned to veteran backup Jamaal Williams and Miller. The rookie running back got off to a strong start with a three-yard rushing score in the second quarter on just his fourth carry of the game, and he finished with a team high in rushing yards despite logging one fewer carry than Williams. New Orleans was eliminated from playoff contention despite winning Week 18; therefore, Miller finishes his 2023 rookie campaign with 41 carries for 156 yards and a touchdown.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Active Sunday
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Miller (ankle/illness) is listed available for Sunday's tilt against the Falcons.
After limited participation in back-to-back practices earlier in the week, Miller logged a DNP Friday due to an illness on top of his ankle issue. However, he is seemingly feeling better and will suit up for the first time since Week 9. With Alvin Kamara (ankle) inactive, Miller and Jordan Mims will be the depth options behind Jamaal Williams in the backfield.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Adds illness to ankle injury
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Miller (ankle/illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Miller was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday, but he failed to practice Friday and is now dealing with an illness on top of the ankle injury that has sidelined him for the past seven games. With Alvin Kamara (ankle) questionable, Jamaal Williams could be the top healthy running back for the Saints on Sunday, with Miller possibly working in a change-of-pace role if the rookie plays and Kamara doesn't.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Limited participant again
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Miller (ankle) was a limited participant in practice for the second straight day Thursday.
The running back has missed seven straight games with the ankle injury. Miller has 28 carries for 83 yards and no touchdowns this season, and he remains behind Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams on the depth chart.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Trending in wrong direction
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Miller was bothered by his injured ankle during Friday's practice and is trending in the wrong direction ahead of Sunday's matchup with Tampa Bay, Brooke Kirchhofer of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Dennis Allen said he'll still treat Miller as a game-time decision, but it sounds like the Saints coach doesn't expect the rookie to play. Miller officially is listed as questionable after logging limited practices throughout the week, and he now seems more likely than not to miss a seventh consecutive game. While there's no assurance of a meaningful role in the offense even if he gets healthy before the end of the season, Miller's availability is a bit more relevant this week with Alvin Kamara listed as questionable due to an illness. Kamara seems much more likely than Miller to play, at this point.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Still limited at practice Thursday
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Miller (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Thursday, Brooke Kirchhofer of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Miller has missed the Saints' last six games due to an ankle sprain he sustained in Week 9 versus the Bears, and now his availability for Week 17 is also in doubt. If he can't manage to practice in full Friday, he'll probably carry an injury designation into the weekend.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Sitting out again Thursday
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Miller (ankle) is listed as inactive Thursday at the Rams, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Miller thus will miss his sixth game in a row as a result of a knee injury. The development runs counter to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network from earlier Thursday in which he relayed that Miller was expected to play Week 16. Miller will turn his focus to returning to action for the Saints' next game Sunday, Dec. 31 at Tampa Bay, while Jamaal Williams and gadget option Taysom Hill receive any carries that don't go to Alvin Kamara.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Estimated as limited participant
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Miller (ankle) was estimated as a limited participant at the Saints' walkthrough practice Tuesday.
Miller was listed as a nonparticipant Monday, so Tuesday's listing signals movement in the right direction. He'll still probably need to manage a full practice Wednesday to avoid carrying an injury designation into Thursday.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Will miss fourth straight game
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Miller (ankle) is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Miller will be sidelined for a fourth consecutive game after he failed to practice in any fashion this week while he works back from an ankle sprain. According to Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com, head coach Dennis Allen said Friday that Miller has made significant strides in his rehab but has "kind of stalled a little bit." The slower progression in Miller's recovery from the ankle sprain than anticipated likely explains why the Saints didn't initially place the rookie on injured reserve when he suffered the injury in a Week 9 win over the Bears. His continued absence will once again Sunday will leave Jamaal Williams unchallenged for the No. 2 role at running back behind starter Alvin Kamara.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Logs another DNP
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Miller (ankle) did not participate in Thursday's practice.
The rookie running back out of TCU has been held out since Week 10, and it seems as if he's still recovering from his ankle issue. Miller has appeared in seven games for the Saints thus far, recording 83 rushing yards on 28 attempts. He'll almost certainly carry an injury designation into the weekend unless he's able to record a full practice session Friday.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Idle for Thursday's practice
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Miller (ankle) isn't participating in Thursday's practice, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Miller appears to be trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's game against the Vikings; he's now been out of commission for the Saints' first two Week 10 practices. Even when healthy, Miller has been handling only a light role of late following Jamaal Williams' return from injured reserve Week 7. Over the ensuing three games, Miller has served as the clear No. 3 back behind Alvin Kamara and Williams, playing single-digit snaps on offense in each of those contests while carrying just four times for 10 yards and adding two receptions for 40 yards.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Misses practice Wednesday
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Miller (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday.
Miller made an early departure from this past Sunday's win against the Bears and eventually was diagnosed with a sprained ankle. The severity of the issue hasn't been revealed, but it isn't a great sign for the rookie third-round pick that he's kicking off Week 10 prep with an absence. Miller's status will be monitored as the weekend approaches to see if he has a chance to suit up Sunday at Minnesota.
Miller injured his ankle during Sunday's game against the Bears.
MIller had two touches prior to his exit in the fourth quarter: a 31-yard catch and a carry for no yards. He got hurt on the second one and visited the medical tent before the Saints reported the injury. If Miller sticks on the sideline, New Orleans will have Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams on hand out of its backfield.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Nonfactor as RB3
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Miller had zero carries during Thursday's 31-24 loss against the Jaguars.
Miller played a season-low three offensive snaps behind veteran running backs Alvin Kamara (66) and Jamaal Williams (20), as the latter rejoined the Saints backfield after sitting out the last four games on IR with a hamstring injury. The rookie out of TCU also did not line up on special teams at all, and all 68 of his snaps this season have come on offense. Miller's only significant production came when both Kamara and Williams were sidelined Week 3 and when the Saints blew out the Patriots, 34-0, in Week 5. So long as Kamara and Williams are available, expect Miller to continue to have a limited impact moving forward.
