What happened: New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is expected to miss at least a month after suffering a sprained MCL during Tuesday's practice. Medical imaging confirmed he avoided any structural tears, sparing him from a major knee injury.
Why it matters: The timeline jeopardizes his availability for the start of the regular season and forces immediate offensive adjustments. The setback disrupts a backfield shakeup in New Orleans that began with his offseason pay cut.
By the numbers: Kamara missed six games with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in November 2025 and previously managed a similar knee issue during the 2021 season.
What to watch: New Orleans will evaluate its remaining backfield depth through the end of the preseason while monitoring his September recovery timeline.