Lance

Moore

“We kind of knew before the plane was going to leave,” said Payton. “The nature of his injury was one that we felt collectively that a setback would be one that you almost start all over again. ... I don’t know if he was close.” Moore looks questionable heading to Week 2 against Chicago. The extended layoff between Thursday night and next Sunday can’t hurt Moore’s chances.

Glazer puts Colston’s timetable for return at four weeks, but that’s probably optimistic. Lance Moore’s groin injury has continued to linger, and Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson both stepped up for big nights at Green Bay. Moore would be Colston’s logical replacement outside and in the slot. If Moore doesn’t get back soon, look for Meachem and Henderson to start with Jimmy Graham perhaps seeing a bump in targets. Colston owners should try to hang onto him as an injured WR5, hoping Glazer’s return estimate proves right. It’s tough luck for Colston, who made an impressive return from offseason microfracture surgery with 81 yards in the opener.

It’s a step up from last week, but not quite confirmation that Moore will be making his season debut in Week 2. Moore did say he feels “optimistic” about returning this week, although Thursday’s practice “will be key” in determining his availability. The Saints square off with Chicago on Sunday.

The Saints were clearly easing Moore back in off his groin injury. Robert Meachem was the main receiver in all single-wide sets, playing 59 snaps and Devery Henderson played 39. We should also note that the Saints uncharacteristically went with three wideouts on just 20-of-67 plays as they sat on a big lead. Look for Moore’s role to gradually rise.

Moore is an intriguing WR3 sleeper play in a projected shootout. He resumed practicing fully this past week and should be close to 100 percent. The Saints’ inactives are MLB Jonathan Vilma, K Garrett Hartley, WR Marques Colston, CB Tracy Porter, DL Tom Johnson, DE Jeff Charleston, and C Matt Tennant.

He also executed two two-point conversions. Clearly 100 percent over his groin injury, Moore played increased snaps en route to a breakout week, while Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem took backseats. Moore essentially plays the same position in the Saints’ offense as Marques Colston, so as long as Colston is out and Moore is healthy, he’s going to be a WR3 with some upside. Trot out Moore in Week 4 against the Jaguars.

Moore saw six targets, but his longest reception was just 13 yards while working primarily on third downs. Averaging 43.5 yards per game since returning from an early-season groin injury, Moore has yet to regain WR3 status heading into next week’s game against the Bucs.

Moore’s restructure cleared $2 million in cap space, reducing his $2 million salary to $825,000 and converting the remainder to a prorated signing bonus. Per Mac’s Football Blog, his $1.5 million roster bonus was also converted to an “amount treated like a signing bonus.”

The phrasing suggests the Saints were merely using extra caution in giving Moore a day of rest. We won’t have a good read on his Week 10 status until Friday’s injury report. Moore was a shaky WR3 option even before the hamstring tweak.

Moore certainly did the most he could with his limited time on the field, piling up five catches and two touchdowns. But this tiny snap count is a reason it’s impossible to expect consistency out of Moore. He’s been held to three catches or less in six of his 10 games this season.