What happened: Travis Etienne Jr. is active for Sunday's matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. New Orleans activated Etienne from injured reserve on Saturday after he was sidelined with a hamstring injury on Oct. 2. He had been listed as questionable entering the contest before clearing pregame warmups.
Why it matters: Etienne's return bolsters the New Orleans backfield as the team seeks to build on a 23-22 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 8. His availability restores a primary ball carrier to the offense ahead of a division matchup.
By the numbers: Etienne has run 30 times for 128 yards in 2026 through 3 games.
What to watch: Watch Etienne's snap distribution and touch volume in his first game action since October.