Sunday’s NFC South clash between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints has injury statuses to several star players in question. Late on Saturday night (or, technically Sunday morning on the east coast), ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided more details on those injury statuses.
The biggest update from Schefter is that Saints running back Alvin Kamara “is not expected to play.”
Kamara has been dealing with a rib injury and was listed as questionable. Kamara’s backup, Mark Ingram, is expected to be able to play after being listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
Saints’ RB Alvin Kamara, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a rib injury, is not expected to play vs. the Buccaneers, per source.
Saints’ RB Mark Ingram, also listed as questionable for Sunday due to an ankle injury, is expected to to play vs. the Buccaneers, per source.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 18, 2022
So, to go with real football ramifications, that one is huge for the fantasy football world. Kamara was a consensus top-13 pick in fantasy drafts this year (average draft position of 11th in standard leagues and 13th in PPR leagues, per FantasyPros). And Ingram all of a sudden becomes a solid pickup for any fantasy managers in need of a running back or flex play (granted, success is not guaranteed against the Tampa Bay defense).
In better news on the injury front for the Saints, Schefter reports that New Orleans starting quarterback Jameis Winston is expected to play — and against the team that drafted him first overall in the 2015 NFL Draft — after being listed as questionable with a back injury.
Saints’ QB Jameis Winston, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a back injury, is expected to play vs. the Buccaneers, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 18, 2022
Winston has been a very efficient passer after leaving Tampa Bay for New Orleans. In 12 games — eight starts — with the Saints (2020-22), Winston has thrown 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions to go with a 103.1 passer rating. This comes after he threw an NFL-high 30 interceptions with the Bucs in 2019.
As for the Bucs’ stars with iffy health statuses, Schefter reports that Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to play despite being listed as questionable with a calf injury.
However, Schefter suggests that wide receiver Julio Jones is a true game-time decision with a knee injury that will be tested out in warm-ups.
Bucs WR Mike Evans, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a calf injury, is expected to play to play vs. the Saints, per source. Bucs don’t expect to know whether they will have WR Julio Jones, who is Q due to a knee injury, until they see how he feels during pre-game warmups.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 18, 2022
Additionally, Schefter reports that Tampa Bay starting running back Leonard Fournette is expected to play after being listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.
Bucs’ RB Leonard Fournette, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a hamstring injury, is expected to play vs. the Saints, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 18, 2022
While there’s still no answer on Jones, having Evans and Fournette good to go will be huge for Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay offense.
The Bucs are currently a 2.5-point road favorite against the Saints. In 2021, the Bucs went 13-4 in the regular season, but 0-2 vs the Saints.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.