The bad news is Kamara had a bad stat line in his 2026 debut in Week 2 at Baltimore with nine carries for 15 yards and five catches for 7 yards on six targets. The good news is he had 14 total touches while sharing playing time with Travis Etienne. Kamara only played 29 percent of the snaps, and C.J. Donaldson is also in the mix for touches with Etienne, but Kamara is not a bad stash candidate in PPR. He could be a flex option in deeper leagues while Etienne is healthy, and Kamara could be a starter in all formats if Etienne ever misses any time. Kamara is worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAAB.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Unimpressive in 2026 debut
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Kamara rushed nine times for 15 yards and caught five of six targets for seven yards in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Ravens.
It's difficult to be less efficient than this, as Kamara's 14 opportunities produced a total of 22 yards. It was the veteran running back's season debut after he missed the entire preseason and Week 1 recovering from a sprained MCL. Kamara made the start alongside Travis Etienne, who turned his eight carries into 25 yards while securing both of his targets for six yards. The Saints continue to use a full-blown three-man committee out of the backfield, as Etienne led the trio with 37 snaps to Kamara's 20 and CJ Donaldson's 20. Now 31 years old and coming off a knee injury, Kamara may not have a whole lot left in the tank.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: 'Feeling great' ahead of Week 2
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Kamara (knee) said Thursday that he "feels great" and has "no limitations" in advance of Sunday's game at Baltimore, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Kamara made an early exit from an Aug. 18 joint practice with the Cowboys and was diagnosed with an MCL sprain that was expected to sideline him for one month. While he was inactive for the Saints' Week 1 contest in Detroit, he followed up back-to-back limited sessions with a full practice last Friday, indicating that he was closing in on a return to action. With a pair of uncapped practices so far this week, he's in line to join Travis Etienne out of the Saints backfield Sunday, and potentially without any limits on his workload.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Good to go for Week 2
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Kamara (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
New Orleans' backfield will get a boost in Week 2 with Kamara back in the mix after missing the season opener with a knee injury. The veteran injured his knee late in the preseason and returned to practice ahead of Week 1 but was not yet ready to give it a go. His full practice Wednesday points to Kamara being available for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Inactive for Week 1
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Kamara (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Lions, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
It was reported earlier Sunday that Kamara was unlikely to suit up for the opener, and he has indeed been ruled out for Week 1, leaving the New Orleans backfield to starter Travis Etienne, fellow reserve Kendre Miller and practice squad call-up CJ Donaldson. Kamara was able to practice fully Friday, which bodes well for his chances of being ready to go for a Week 2 road matchup against the Ravens next Sunday.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Not expected to play Week 1
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Kamara (knee), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Detroit, isn't in line to play in the season opener and is instead slated to make his 2026 debut Week 2 at Baltimore, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Kamara departed a joint practice with the Cowboys on Aug. 18 early and was diagnosed with an MCL sprain that was expected to sideline him for one month. While he followed up back-to-back limited sessions to begin Week 1 prep with a full practice Friday, the Saints will exercise caution with the 10th-year pro and allow him another week to get healthier. In Kamara's anticipated absence Sunday, New Orleans will roll with Travis Etienne as its lead runner, with Kendre Miller and practice-squad call-up CJ Donaldson the other candidates for backfield reps.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Limited again Thursday
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Kamara (knee) remained limited at practice Thursday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Kamara still has a chance to suit up Week 1 as he recovers from a sprained MCL, so his participation level Friday will bear monitoring before the Saints release game designations for Sunday's matchup with the Lions. Travis Etienne is in line to lead New Orleans' backfield, while Kendre Miller could take on a change-of-pace role if Kamara doesn't play.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Returns to practice Wednesday
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Kamara (knee) returned to practice Wednesday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
With Kamara back on the field after being sidelined by a sprained MCL for most of the summer, he looks like he may have a shot at playing in Sunday's opener in Detroit. Travis Etienne is expected to operate as the Saints' lead back this season, but Kamara should still have a prominent role on offense as a change-of-pace option. If Kamara is unable to advance to full participation in practice by the end of the week and ends up sitting out Sunday, however, Etienne would get a big boost to his fantasy floor, making him a strong lineup option in what projects to be a high-scoring affair.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Out for at least one month with MCL sprain
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Kamara (knee) is expected to be out for at least one month after sustaining an MCL sprain during Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The injury puts Kamara's availability in jeopardy for the Saints' Week 1 game in Detroit on Sept. 13 and may also make him a candidate to open the season on injured reserve, which would keep him out for at least New Orleans' first four contests. The Saints will likely wait and see how Kamara progresses in his recovery over the next few weeks before a clearer target for his return to practice and eventually game action comes into focus. In the event that Kamara is out to begin the season, free-agent pickup Travis Etienne would likely take on a larger share of the rushing and pass-catching volume out of the backfield, while backups such as Devin Neal (hamstring), Kendre Miller (back) or Audric Estime (ankle) could also be sprinkled into the game plan a bit more.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Set to miss multiple weeks
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Kamara (knee) avoided a major injury Tuesday but "will be out for a few weeks," Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
A knee injury forced Kamara from Tuesday's practice, and while the veteran running back "didn't tear anything," a multi-week absence would cost him the rest of the preseason at the very least. The Saints are struggling to find healthy bodies for their backfield, with Travis Etienne being the only running back among the top four on the depth chart not carrying an injury tag.
Kamara said Wednesday that he hasn't been asked to take a pay cut, Matthew Paras of The Advocate reports. "I haven't had any conversations in regard to that, so I don't know," Kamara said. "I think there's a time and a place for everything. If that conversation comes up, then I'll have an answer for you when it comes up."
Kamara typically skips the voluntary offseason program, and he seemed to be doing the same this year until he arrived Wednesday during the second week of OTA practices. It sounds like he now plans to stick around for a few more voluntary sessions before mandatory minicamp June 16-17. Kamara's NFL future nonetheless remains uncertain, with a complicated contract situation after repeated extensions and restructures in New Orleans. A trade or release could help the Saints' cap sheet for 2027, which the team ultimately might consider more valuable than whatever Kamara can provide off the bench behind new lead back Travis Etienne. The Saints seemingly want to give Kamara a chance this summer to prove that he can still be a useful player, albeit in a lesser role after Etienne signed a four-year contract with $24 million guaranteed at signing. It appears Kamara has recovered from the MCL sprain and ankle injury that cut his 2025 campaign short.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Preparing for 2026 campaign
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Kamara (knee/ankle) is still working out with his trainers daily in preparation for the 2026 season, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Kamara was absent from the Saints' OTA session Wednesday, as has been the case, while his future with the team remains in question. The running back missed the final six contests of the 2025 campaign while nursing both an MCL sprain and an ankle issue, and it's unclear if he's back to full health yet. Kamara recorded a career-low 471 rushing yards and one touchdown on 131 carries while also reeling in 33 of 39 targets for 186 yards over 11 regular-season games this past year. With the Saints signing Travis Etienne to a four-year, $48 million contract in March, Kamara would likely operate as the No. 2 option in the backfield with New Orleans this season, if he sticks around.
Kamara (knee) agreed to terms Friday on a restructured contract with the Saints, lowering his cap his for the 2026 season by roughly $8 million, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The Saints also converted the contracts of Juwan Johnson and Justin Reid, converting part of their base salary into signing bonuses, but Kamara's restructure differs in that it provides New Orleans with flexibility if he isn't on the team. The veteran running back is heading into his age-31 season and missed the final six games of the 2025 campaign due to an MCL injury, but there have been no indications that the issue could impact his level of offseason participation. Whether Kamara departs or remains with the Saints, he will likely settle into a complementary role for the 2026 campaign.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Out again
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Kamara (knee/ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Kamara hasn't practiced since suffering an MCL sprain in late November. He'll now miss a sixth straight game to close out the season, leaving Audric Estime in the lead role after New Orleans lost Kendre Miller (ACL) and Devin Neal (hamstring) to season-ending injuries. Kamara is under contract for one more season, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be back with the Saints in 2026, as only $3 million of his $11.5 million base salary is guaranteed. Kamara will turn 31 in July and has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons, so he could be looking at a reduced role even if he sticks around in New Orleans.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Another missed practice
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Kamara (knee/ankle) did not practice Thursday.
Kamara appears on track to miss Sunday's regular-season finale against the Falcons, which would constitute his sixth straight missed contest. With Devin Neal (hamstring) having been placed on IR in Week 16, Audric Estime will be positioned to close out the 2025 campaign as New Orleans' backfield leader if Kamara indeed can't play Week 18.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Remains absent from practice
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Kamara (knee/ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Kamara has missed five straight games due to a sprained MCL suffered Week 12 versus Atlanta, giving him only two more chances to practice before Sunday's regular-season finale rematch against the Falcons. Of course, with New Orleans already definitively eliminated from playoff contention, there's little incentive in pushing the 30-year-old veteran back on the field if he's anything less than 100 percent healthy. Audric Estime impressed as the leader of the Saints' backfield against the Titans in Week 17, rushing 14 times for 94 yards and one score.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Listed as DNP again
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Kamara (knee/ankle) is listed as a non-participant on Thursday's estimated injury report, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Kamara remains sidelined due to the sprained MCL that he suffered Week 12 against the Falcons, and if the Saints ultimately rule him out for Sunday's contest at Tennessee, he'll have just one more chance to suit up this season Week 18 in Atlanta. With Devin Neal (hamstring) on injured reserve, all of Taysom Hill (12), Audric Estime (five), Evan Hull (five), Tyler Shough (two and Mason Tipton (one) handled carries this past Sunday versus the Jets.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: No practice yet
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Kamara (knee/ankle) was a non-participant in Wednesday's practice.
Kamara has yet to practice since he sustained a sprained MCL in Week 12, but the fact that coach Kellen Moore already has ruled out fellow RB Devin Neal (hamstring) for Week 16 action, per Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune, would seem to indicate Kamara may be on the brink of a return to action. In order to do so, though, Kamara likely will need to mix into drills Thursday and/or Friday. Evan Hull and Audric Estime are the only healthy backfield options on the Saints' active roster at the moment.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Ruled out for third straight game
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Kamara (knee/ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Carolina.
Devin Neal topped a 70 percent snap share in both of the past two weeks while filling in for Kamara. The rookie should get a similar workload this Sunday, with Audric Estime and Evan Hull in reserve.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Not spotted at practice
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Kamara (knee/ankle) wasn't seen at Thursday's practice, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Considering he has yet to practice since he sustained a sprained MCL in Week 12, Kamara appears to be trending toward a third consecutive absence Sunday against the Panthers. Fellow RB Devin Neal (abdomen) was limited at Wednesday's session, so the statuses of the Saints' top two options at the position are up in the air ahead of Week 15 action.
