New Orleans

Saints

Saints RB Devin Neal exited with a hamstring injury, allowing Estime to get involved as a receiver while RB Evan Hull ran four times for 12 yards. Estime was churning his legs through contact after securing two screen passes and one checkdown target. Veteran RB Alvin Kamara (ankle/knee) has not yet resumed practicing. Estime could warrant RB3/FLEX consideration against the Jets in Week 16.

Johnson functioned as a small-time contributor in this one, though he made a nifty play against Panthers CB Mike Jackson. He allowed Jackson to lay a hard hit on him mid-catch. but Johnson still managed to extend his left hand, tipping the pass to himself and securing the six-yard gain despite the hard hit at the Panthers’ six-yard line. He is a TE2 against the Jets next week.

Olave was an afterthought for much of this game, ceding targets to possession receiver WR Devaughn Vele until Vele exited with a shoulder injury. Olave had just one catch and seven yards on two targets at halftime. He came to life on the Saints’ seventh drive, ripping off explosive gains on three consecutive plays, while bizarrely employing a catch-and-fall technique on each one. He sandwiched 17- and 16-yard gains on post routes with an 18-yard gain on a corner route. On 3rd-and-6 from the Panthers’ 12-yard line, he deftly broke inward on a post route, leaving Panthers star CB Jaycee Horn in the dust. Shough then slung it to Olave for the score. Olave is a borderline WR1/2 against the Jets in Week 16.

Panthers defenders were flagged at least three times for deserved unnecessary roughness penalties against Shough today. Panthers DT Derrick Brown, LB Christian Rozeboom and S Lathan Ransom all lowered their shoulders on Shough after he had given himself up by sliding at the end of a scramble. He briefly met with the training staff after taking Rozeboom’s knee in his lower right back and glute, but was able to return, and ended up leading his team in rushing. Shough relied heavily on WR Devaughn Vele until Vele left with a shoulder injury. The departure seemingly reminded Shough of WR Chris Olave’s existence, leading the two to link up for four completions, 62 yards and one touchdown on the Saints’ seventh drive. Shough is a mildly interesting QB2 against the Jets next week.

Initially questionable to return, Vele never did. Vele was diving all over the place against the Panthers, catching 5-of-6 targets for 69 yards before exiting. The big-bodied wide receiver picked up multiple first downs and played a key role on the Saints’ 17-play third drive. He first found a soft spot in the Panthers’ zone coverage, gaining 10 yards on a curl route by picking up a few yards after the catch. He later went sky-high on a dagger route and high-pointed the ball before being met in the air by CB Mike Jackson, who tackled him for a 17-yard gain. He could be a boom-bust FLEX against the Jets next week, if active.

He was deemed questionable to return to the game, but never did. Neal scored a four-yard touchdown on his final play before exiting, following his blocks on an outside run to the right side. He broke the plane by dutifully lowering his left shoulder and plowing through contact. Thus far, Neal has rushed seven times for 28 yards and one touchdown, adding one reception for four yards. His status will be something to monitor this week. Kellen Moore did not have an update after the game.

Kamara and Richards were ruled out on Friday. Reid seemingly had a chance to return from his knee injury, practicing in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday. He will try again next week. Reid accounts for 45 tackles, two quarterback pressures, one sack, two pass breakups and one interception. Saints RB Devin Neal (abdomen) will start again in Kamara’s stead.

He’ll be the lead back against the Panthers in Week 15 and is a borderline RB2/RB3 versus a Panthers defense that has operated as a pass funnel at times this season. Neal upgraded to a full practice today after two limited sessions to start the week. We don’t have any concerns about his injury at this point.

He didn’t practice on Wednesday, but the veteran probably has enough savvy to make it on to the field on Sunday if his knee cooperates. Reid had missed Week 14 and four straight practices before re-appearing on Thursday.

That makes it three weeks in a row with no practice or game for Kamara, who has been out since a Week 12 MCL sprain. It’s possible that he’ll make it back next week, but he certainly doesn’t have to be held at this point. He was playing like an RB3 in fantasy while playing through an ankle listing.