Buccaneers vs. Saints Injury Report – Week 18, 2024
See who's in and who's out for the Week 18 matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints on January 5, 2025.12 HOURS AGO • DATA SKRIVE
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 5-11 · 3RD IN NFC SOUTH
5-11 · 3RD IN NFC SOUTH
Next Game at Buccaneers · Sun 6:00PM
NO +13.5 TOTAL 43.5
Pete Werner - In concussion protocol Werner did not participate in Wednesday's practice due to a concussion.
Impact Werner had a team-high 13 tackles (seven solo) during the Saints' Week 17 loss to the Raiders. The 2021 second-round pick likely injured his head during the game and was diagnosed with a concussion following further tests after the contest. Werner would have to clear the league's five-step concussion protocol in order to play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Buccaneers.
12 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Juwan Johnson - Dealing with knee injury Johnson (knee) was limited at Wednesday's practice.
Impact Prior to each of the previous four games, Johnson endured some practice restrictions due to a foot issue. Now, though, he's dealing with a knee injury, clouding his availability ahead of Sunday's contest at Tampa Bay. As a result, Johnson's status will be watched as the week goes on to get a sense of his potential to play this weekend.
13 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Marquez Valdes-Scantling - Limited at practice Wednesday Valdes-Scantling (chest) was limited in practice Wednesday.
Impact Valdes-Scantling sat out Week 16 at Green Bay due to an illness and a chest issue but was able to suit up this past Sunday versus the Raiders, playing 78 percent of the offensive snaps. He also didn't haul in either of his two targets, and while interim coach Darren Rizzi relayed to Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune afterward that Valdes-Scantling picked up a back injury, he said one day later that the wide receiver checked out OK, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. In the end, the aforementioned chest injury continues to plague Valdes-Scantling as the Saints begin Week 18 prep.
13 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Kendre Miller - DNP on Wednesday Miller (concussion) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice.
Impact Miller made an early exit from this past Sunday's game versus the Raiders due to a concussion, and his lack of activity to begin Week 18 prep indicates he hasn't made much progress through the protocol for head injuries. The Saints' top RB Alvin Kamara also didn't practice Wednesday due to a lingering adductor issue, leaving Jamaal Williams, Jordan Mims and practice-squad member Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the healthy options at the position at the moment.
14 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Chris Olave - Another full practice Olave (concussion) practiced fully Wednesday.
Impact Olave now has been listed as full on four consecutive practice reports, but he's yet to receive clearance from an independent neurologist following the concussion that he suffered Week 9 at Carolina. Interim coach Darren Rizzi relayed Monday that Olave also needs to improve his conditioning level, per Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com. Nevertheless, Olave at least appears to be on a path to returning to action Sunday in Tampa Bay, something that may be confirmed as soon as New Orleans posts its final Week 18 injury report Friday.
14 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Derek Carr - Doesn't practice Wednesday Carr (left hand) didn't take part in practice Wednesday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Impact Carr continues to tend to a fractured left hand that he suffered Week 14 at the Giants, missing the last three games as a result. Interim coach Darren Rizzi said Monday that the Saints will evaluate Carr as the week goes on to determine whether he has a chance to play Sunday at Tampa Bay, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. If Carr doesn't progress enough in his recovery, though, Spencer Rattler would be in line for a third straight start Week 18.
15 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Alvin Kamara - No practice Wednesday Kamara (groin) didn't practice Wednesday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Impact Kamara has yet to take part in drills since sustaining an adductor injury Week 15 against the Commanders. With Kendre Miller in the concussion protocol, Jamaal Williams, Jordan Mims and practice-squad member Clyde Edwards-Helaire are the healthy running backs available for the Saints. Kamara will have two more chances this week to get back on the practice field before the team potentially makes a ruling on his status for Sunday's season finale at Tampa Bay.
15 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE
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Jaylan Ford - Placed on IR The Saints moved Ford (fibula) to injured reserve Tuesday.
Impact Ford fractured his fibula Sunday against Las Vegas and is set to have surgery. The rookie linebacker played exclusively on special teams this season. The Saints signed tackle Josh Ball from the Cowboys' practice squad to their active roster Tuesday in a corresponding move.
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Khalen Saunders - Ties season high with seven tackles Saunders finished Sunday's 25-10 loss to the Raiders with seven tackles (three solo).
Impact Saunders tied a season high with seven combined tackles and finished as the Saints' fourth-leading tackler Sunday behind Pete Werner (13), Demario Davis (13) and Will Harris (eight). Saunders is now up to 43 tackles (18 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and three pass defenses (including one interception) through 12 regular-season games. He'll look to finish the 2024 campaign off strong in the Saints' regular-season finale against the Buccaneers next Sunday.
2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Clyde Edwards-Helaire - Heads back to practice squad Edwards-Helaire reverted to the Saints' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Impact With Alvin Kamara (groin) sidelined for a second straight game Sunday against the Raiders, Kendre Miller got the start, but Edwards-Helaire received the first touch among Saints running backs. Miller's exit in the second quarter due to a concussion allowed Edwards-Helaire to earn the most snaps (26) and touches (seven for 30 yards from scrimmage) in the position group, while Jamaal Williams played 25 snaps and handled three touches (for 24 total yards), and Miller was contained to eight plays and four touches (for 19 total yards). It's unknown if Kamara or Miller will gain clearance to suit up Week 18 at Tampa Bay, so Edwards-Helaire and Williams may be lined up to split the backfield reps in that contest.
2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
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Derek Carr - Could play in season finale The Saints will evaluate Carr (hand) this week to determine if he will play in Sunday's Week 18 game against the Buccaneers, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Impact Per New Orleans head coach Darren Rizzi, Carr simulated some game-like situations last week but wasn't far enough along to suit up against his former club, the Raiders. It's likely Carr will go through a similar assessment this week before his status for the Saints' season finale is determined. New Orleans probably isn't going to push the envelope with Carr given that the team is out of playoff contention, and if the veteran quarterback can't play, Spencer Rattler will likely get another start.
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Taysom Hill - Undergoes successful surgery Hill (knee) recently underwent surgery, and he's expected to make a full recovery, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Impact Hill tore his left ACL in Week 13 against the Rams. With surgery complete and successful, the veteran tight end will work to return to action next season. Hill's current contract with New Orleans runs through the 2025 campaign.
2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Alvin Kamara - Week 18 status up to medical staff Kamara (groin) wants to play Sunday versus Tampa Bay, but that decision will be left up to the Saints' medical staff, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Kamara has sat out each of New Orleans' past two games due to an adductor injury. The star running back didn't practice at all last week, and he'd almost certainly have to return in at least a limited capacity this week in order to have any chance of suiting up Sunday. Kendre Miller is currently in concussion protocol, so Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims could form the Saints' backfield in Week 18 if neither Kamara nor Miller is able to play.
2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Chris Olave - Wants to return for Week 18 Olave (concussion), who remains on IR, want to play Sunday versus Tampa Bay, but his return is contingent on his conditioning level and the go-ahead from the team's medical staff,...
Impact Olave hasn't played since Week 9, and the Saints have no shot at making the playoffs. Nonetheless, the veteran wideout wants to return for the team's season finale Sunday, according to head coach Darren Rizzi. Olave is expected to practice Wednesday, which will increase his chance of being activated ahead of Sunday, though at this point Olave's status remains up in the air.
2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Marquez Valdes-Scantling - Fine after injury scare Valdes-Scantling "checked out well" Monday after leaving Sunday's Week 17 loss to the Raiders due to a back injury in the fourth quarter, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football repor...
Impact Valdes-Scantling had dealt with a chest issue in practice recently, which may have precipitated the Saints' decision to pull him after he took a hard hit late in Sunday's loss. However, it appears the veteran wideout avoided a significant injury and isn't in danger of missing Sunday's season finale against Tampa Bay. The Saints have been eliminated from playoff contention, but Valdes-Scantling does have some financial motivation to suit up against the Buccaneers, as he can earn a $250k bonus with one touchdown and another $250k with nine receptions.
2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Jaylan Ford - Done for 2024 Head coach Darren Rizzi said Monday that Ford will have surgery for a fractured fibula that he suffered during the Saints' 25-10 loss to the Raiders on Sunday, Katherine Terrell of...
Impact Ford was carted off the field in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game after suffering the injury on punt coverage. Per John Hendrix of SI.com, the Saints will conduct additional tests on Ford's leg to see if there's any further structural or ligament damage beyond the fracture before moving ahead with surgery. The rookie fifth-round pick played primarily on special teams during his first NFL regular season and finished with four tackles (two solo) across eight games.
2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Cameron Jordan - Picks up another sack Sunday Jordan recorded three tackles (three solo) including 1.0 sacks during Sunday's 25-10 loss versus the Raiders.
Impact After not recording a single sack over his first nine games of the season, Jordan has now collected four in his last seven games. He'll be hoping to further boost his season sack total in Week 18 when the Saints go on the road to take on Tampa Bay.
2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
