Injuries continue year-long frustration for Saints

Mandated, frustrated, dictated, deflated.

It has been that kind of year for so many in this community and country. It’s has been that kind of year for the New Orleans Saints.

First came the disappointment of falling short against Tampa Bay in January, a home playoff game where few fans could attend due to the mandated number of attendees surrounding capacity allowed to do so in New Orleans.

What followed could be equated to a purge as a host of good players had to be turned loose due to the harsh reality of finances related to the NFL salary cap as we bid goodbye to the likes of Trey Hendrickson, Janoris Jenkins, Malcom Brown, Sheldon Ranks, Emanuel Sanders, Jared Cook and Josh Hill. You could throw in Craig Robertson and Alex Anzalone.

Then came off the field issues with Marshon Lattimore and Deonte Harris, leaving the organization frustrated while waiting for any possible verdict from the NFL regarding any punishment which has still not been meted out.

Next were the mandated protocols for fans to attend games, resulting in more empty seat than you would normally see, even for a preseason game.

Now, the excitement of a very good performance by the first team offense and defense in a win over Jacksonville was tempered, darkened, deflated by a rash of injuries coming out of the game.

Three injuries suffered in the win over the Jaguars have resulted in players being placed on injured reserve, including defensive tackle Jalen Dalton, offensive lineman Ethan Greenidge and cornerback Brian Poole.

Dalton was having an excellent preseason and clearly figured in the rotation at defensive tackle but tore his triceps muscle for the second time in as many years.

Greenidge played in 15 games as a reserve last year.

Poole is a five-year veteran who signed a month ago and was expected to provide a needed veteran presence at an important position.

Meanwhile, the top tight ends on the roster were also injured and will miss time.

Adam Trautman left the game on a cart and has a foot injury which will likely cause him to miss time, perhaps even into the regular season.

Veteran Nick Vannett also left the game with an undisclosed injury.

Then, there is the plight of Ken Crawley, who is having an outstanding preseason and is being counted on to start.

Crawley reportedly was also injured and could miss a couple of weeks, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

For a team lacking depth to begin with, these latest setbacks leave the organization and fans frustrated.

The result is that you will likely see the roster fluctuated to a large degree over the next week or so as Sean Payton tries to get to his final 53 players.

It is not time to panic but the brain trust has to be deflated, to a degree.

Now, we all wait to be updated on the status of Crawley and the tight ends. Is there any doubt that Juwan Johnson will make this team now?

As I have stated continuously, to be a championship team, you have to be good and you have to be lucky.

Despite all of the losses from last year’s squad, the Saints were still positioned to be solid, good in many areas and certainly competitive but the losses must be mitigated.

Whether the Saints are a playoff or even a Super Bowl contender can certainly be debated.

Sooner or later, the Saints will get lucky. For the 2021 version to have a chance at making it five straight division titles and playoff appearances, a roster with a few new additions from the waiver wire or even through a trade will have to be created.