Kamara, Minshew added to injury reports Thursday ahead of Saints-Jaguars game

Two key players made unexpected appearances on injury reports Thursday for the Saints and Jaguars.

The Saints added running back Alvin Kamara to their injury report Thursday with an ankle injury. He was not listed Wednesday on the first report of the week.

The Jaguars reported quarterback Gardner Minshew II as limited participant on Thursday due to groin soreness. The rookie starter’s issue is not considered to be serious.

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck) did not practice after being limited Wednesday while both quarterback Drew Brees (right thumb) and wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith (ankle) were out once again.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Position Name (Injury) Wed. / Thurs.
QB Drew Brees (Thumb) DNP / DNP
WR Tre’Quan Smith (Ankle) DNP DNP /
DE Trey Hendrickson (Neck) LP / DNP
RB Alvin Kamara (Ankle) Not Listed / LP

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Position Name (Injury) Wed. / Thurs.
C Brandon Linder (NIR) DNP /FP
DE Calais Campbell (NIR) LP / FP
CB Jalen Ramsey (Back) LP / LP
CB D.J. Hayden (Foot) LP / LP
S Ronnie Henderson (Ankle) LP/ LP
DE Lerentee McCray (Oblique) LP / DNP
TE Josh Oliver (Hamstring) LP / LP
QB Gardner Minshew II (Groin) Not listed / LP
WR Marquise Lee (NIR) Not listed / DNP

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton
Conference Call with New Orleans Media
Thursday, October 10, 2019

DJ Chark is off to a really good start there. Have you seen maybe a big connection between him and (Gardner) Minshew since he took over?

“He’s a big target that can run and I think it happens at times. A quarterback comes in and there’s some confidence that’s usually borne out of some plays or a game and then all of a sudden that continues to grow. I think you’ve seen it with those two guys.”

Is it difficult to tell what changes they’ve made offensively because they brought in Nick Foles obviously and probably structured things around him? Then they had to change quarterbacks to Minshew to go on the fly. Do they seem to be doing some things that maybe Minshew excelled at in college or does it look pretty much the same as it would if (Nick) Foles was there?

“I think the one thing is you see in the last couple of weeks this commitment to running the football, whether it’s out of sub personnel or base personnel and I know Doug (Marrone) well enough to know you’re wanting to help your quarterback and your team. We are the same way, so you are finding ways to reduce the third and longs. I think that you’ve seen that. You’ve seen the rushing attempts go up.”

How’s Kiko Alonso started to kind of work his way into the defense here? Do you feel like he’s kind of been picking things up?

“Yes, he’s a smart player and he’s experienced and sometimes the timing, you don’t understand the significance of it. But in that case, unfortunately for Alex (Anzalone), his injury came and I think it’s something that…We’re fortunate to have a player that can move (into the lineup) like that with the injury that Alex had. I think he’s done well and he’s playing in the base. His role will continue to expand.”

With Mike Thomas this offseason, maybe the perception is sometimes when a player gets paid the big money contract, you wonder if they’re going to be the same player that they were before, but I’m guessing that was never a concern with Mike?

“No. He’s such a competitive player. He’s such a competitive practice player that…Look, you can never say the money’s not important. The money’s important, right? But I would say he’s one of those players that won’t be as effected by the money maybe as some others might be. He’s really a guy that wants to win, be successful, and he can be, to a fault sometimes, his own worst critic.”

Is his play without Drew Brees in there, kind of not missing a beat, does that surprise you at all or is that kind of what you expected out of him?

“The (last) three games had been different. Seattle, we didn’t have as many snaps. I think these last couple (games he’s seen more opportunities)…He is competitive.  Our job as coaches is to get him those opportunities and each week find ways to get guys like him the football and practice it and put the quarterback in that position. He is doing well.”