Alvin Kamara positioned on COVID-19 record, will miss Saints’ Week 17 recreation in opposition to Panthers

Alvin Kamara will miss the Saints’ common season finale in opposition to the Panthers after he was positioned on the group’s reserve/COVID-19 record on Friday. CBS Sports activities NFL Insider Jason La Canfora confirmed the information on Friday afternoon. 

The four-time Professional Bowl operating again missed Friday’s apply as he was awaiting the results of a COVID-19 take a look at. Given Kamara’s state of affairs, Sunday’s recreation carries much more significance for the Saints. If the Saints need to play within the wild-card spherical, they might have to take action with out Kamara if he nonetheless on the group’s COVID-19 record. New Orleans can earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed if they will beat the Panthers together with wins by the Bears and Seahawks. The 11-4 Saints are at the moment the No. 2 seed within the NFC. 

Kamara’s absence will doubtless result in bigger workloads for Latavius Murray and Taysom Hill. Murray is second on the group in carries (146) and speeding yards (656). Hill, who went 3-1 this season because the Saints’ beginning quarterback, is third on the Saints in speeding yards (416) and second in speeding touchdowns (seven). On Sunday, the Saints will face a Panthers protection that’s sixteenth within the league in speeding yards allowed and twenty eighth in yards per carry allowed. 

The 25-year-old Kamara is coming off of his finest recreation as a professional. In New Orleans’ Christmas Day win over the Vikings, Kamara tied the NFL report by speeding for six touchdowns. And whereas his success was loved by fantasy soccer managers which have him on their roster, the NFL determined to effective him $5,000 for the pink and inexperienced cleats he wore throughout his historic efficiency. 

“In the event that they effective me, no matter it’s, I am going to simply match it and donate it to charity,” mentioned Kamara, who leads the NFL with 16 landing runs. “You already know that the Grinch all the time tries to steal Christmas.”

A 2017 third-round choose, Kamara has been the NFL’s most versatile operating again since his rookie season. In 60 profession video games, the previous Tennessee Volunteer has rushed for 43 touchdowns whereas averaging 5 yards per carry. He has additionally caught 15 landing passes, and his 326 receptions are essentially the most by a operating again throughout his first 4 seasons. 

Kamara, who has already set profession highs this season in speeding touchdowns (16) and receptions (83), was 68 yards away from his first 1,000-yard speeding season. He was 70 receiving yards away from breaking his profession excessive set in 2017.