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Multiple starting skill players for the Saints are dealing with lingering injuries, which could have Hill primed for a significant workload to start the regular season.
Starting tight end Juwan Johnson has yet to practice this training camp after undergoing foot surgery in mid-June, and it's unclear if he'll be able to play Week 1. Running backs Alvin Kamara (back) and Kendre Miller (hamstring) are also both currently sidelined with injuries. Hill's versatility on offense means he should be one of the first options to pick up the slack if any three of these players miss time this season. The 34-year-old has traditionally been featured at tight end and quarterback -- especially as a rushing quarterback in power formations. Comments from Saints coach Dennis Allen this offseason have emphasized that Hill once again be a key piece of the offense, though Allen has also been unsurprisingly vague when discussing just how he'll fit into the system for new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Hill's been spotted working more with the team's running backs and fullbacks during training camp and OTAs, suggesting that he could get even more usage in the backfield, and he also lined up at running back on one of his six snaps during last Saturday's preseason opener. Head coach Dennis Allen recently remarked Miller's extended absence could make it "challenging" for the second-year back to make the roster, according to Patrick Magee of the New Orleans Advocate, or at least hold a significant role early in the season. If that's the case, then Hill and fellow backup running back Jamaal Williams figure to step in as the team's No. 2 and No. 3 rushing options, respectively, to open the 2024 campaign.
