Saints' Kendre Miller: Sees first action of season
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Miller rushed six times for 36 yards and secured two of three targets for one yard in the Saints' 33-10 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night.
The oft-injured 2023 third-round pick made his season debut following a long recovery from a hamstring injury sustained back in late July. Miller saw only two of his touches before the game was fully out of hand, but he looked good while gaining 25 of his rushing yards on back-to-back carries during the Saints' final drive. Now finally healthy, Miller could eventually start eating into Jamaal Williams' touches as the No. 2 running back, although the former will have to prove that consistent health is no longer elusive.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Active for first time this season
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Miller (hamstring) is listed as active Thursday versus the Broncos.
For the first time this season, Miller is available to the Saints offense after completing his recovery from a hamstring injury that he sustained early in training camp. Having said that, Alvin Kamara also is suiting up, which means he should be good for his typical workload of 22 touches per game. As a result, Miller likely will be hard-pressed to see much, if any, action behind Kamara and Jamaal Williams.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Clear of injury report
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Miller (hamstring) wasn't listed on the Saints' estimated injury report Monday.
Despite the Saints activating Miller from injured reserve Saturday, he was held out of Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers while Alvin Kamara assumed his normal workhorse role, with Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims mixing in behind him. Coach Dennis Allen told John Hendrix of SI.com earlier Monday that he expects Miller will be "ready to go this week." Kamara was listed as limited due to a hand issue Monday, but assuming he's able to suit up as usual Thursday versus the Broncos, Miller may not have much of a role behind Kamara and Williams, if he's even active.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Coach optimistic for Thursday debut
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Coach Dennis Allen said Monday that he expects Miller (hamstring) to make his season debut Thursday against the Broncos, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Miller was activated off injured reserve Saturday but remained inactive for Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers. The 2023 third-round draft pick is expected to make his season debut Thursday, though official word on Miller's status won't come until later in the week. Once he's cleared to play, Miller will jostle with Jamaal Williams for backup touches behind Alvin Kamara.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Not suiting up
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Miller (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Miller missed the first five weeks of the season with a hamstring issue and was activated off injured reserve Saturday. Even after turning in three full practices, however, he'll be inactive once again. Jamaal Williams will remain the top backup to Alvin Kamara against Tampa Bay as a result.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Activated off IR
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Miller (hamstring) was activated off injured reserve Saturday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. The second-year back still remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football in a second report suggested Miller likely won't see a significant role right out of the gate, which makes sense given the young back's history of injuries throughout his career. Expect Alvin Kamara to be the main focal point on offense, with rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler making his first career start in replacement of the injured Derek Carr (oblique).
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Another full listing Wednesday
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Miller (hamstring) was listed as a full participant for Wednesday's walkthrough.
Though Miller was deemed a full participant in the Saints' final two practices for Week 5 and wasn't listed with a designation Saturday, the team downgraded him to doubtful Sunday and then ruled him out ahead of Monday's game at Kansas City. As of Wednesday, he's been without restrictions in three straight sessions, but the team still has two weeks to make a decision to activate him from injured reserve. He'll still have a chance to make his season debut this Sunday versus the Buccaneers, though the Saints would have to activate him by Saturday at 4 p.m. ET in order to be eligible to play.
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Saints' Kendre Miller: Makes return to practice
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Saints head coach Dennis Allen said that Miller (hamstring) practiced Thursday, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
With Miller making his return to practice for the first time since late July, the Saints will now have 21 days to evaluate him for reinstatement from injured reserve. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football previously reported last week that Miller was expected to be available for the Saints in Monday's game against the Chiefs, but Allen suggested that the running back is considered day-to-day. Allen added that the Saints will see how Miller looks during practices throughout the week before deciding on his status for the Week 5 contest.
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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: 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.
