EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New Orleans Saints have four players returning from injuries for Sunday's game against the New York Jets, but on the flip side, they are also down seven players between the latest rash of injuries and COVID-19.
The four players ruled out due to injury are starting right tackle Ryan Ramczyk (knee), rookie linebacker Pete Werner (elbow), linebacker Kaden Elliss (hamstring) and receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Ramczyk, Werner and Elliss were ruled out on Friday, while Humphrey was originally slated as questionable with the injury he sustained midweek in practice.
The Saints will also be without All-Pro defensive end Cameron Jordan, veteran running back Mark Ingram and receiver Ty Montgomery as they remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list. There was a small chance that Jordan and Ingram could have played because they're vaccinated and had several days to test out of quarantine, but that did not come to fruition.
Four players will make their return to the field Sunday, as Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara, starting defensive end Marcus Davenport, Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead and starting nickelback C.J. Gardner-Johnson are all returning after missing varying amounts of games due to their respective injuries.
Kamara missed four games with a knee injury. Davenport was out two games due to a shoulder injury. Armstead missed three of the last four games due to knee or shoulder injuries. Gardner-Johnson missed four games with a foot injury.
The Saints also had three healthy inactives: rookie quarterback Ian Book, cornerback Ken Crawley and offensive lineman Will Clapp.
The Saints called up five players from the practice squad on Saturday to play Sunday: receivers Kevin White and Easop Winston, tight end Ethan Wolf, linebacker Chase Hansen and recently-signed guard James Carpenter.
