With Mark Ingram headed for surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, the Saints will be without their leading rusher against the Buccaneers this Sunday.
It looks like they’ll be missing their leading receiver as well. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who has 61 catches for 840 yards and seven touchdowns, was added to the team’s injury report with a concussion.
It’s not clear when the injury happened, but a first appearance on the injury report on Thursday doesn’t leave a lot of time to progress through the concussion protocol. Willie Snead was limited in practice with a calf injury, leaving Marques Colston, Brandon Coleman and T.J. Graham as the healthiest options in New Orleans.
Drew Brees may be pressed to find whichever receivers wind up in the lineup on Sunday behind an offensive line that was missing left tackle Terron Armstead, right tackle Zach Strief and right guard Jahiri Evans at practice on Thursday. The injuries on offense could wind up being good news for Tampa, which needs a win to stay in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.