Injury roundup: Saints QB/TE Hill not expected to play vs. Panthers, but WR Chris Olave should be good to go
New Orleans Saints quarterback/tight end Taysom Hill is inactive for Sunday versus the Panthers. In addition, wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (thigh) is inactive, while wide receiver Chris Olave (illness) and defensive end Cameron Jordan (ankle) are active.
Starting quarterback Derek Carr has already been cleared from concussion protocol after sustaining multiple injuries in last week’s game, setting him up to start on Sunday, but he is still dealing with a non-displaced rib cartilage fracture and an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on NFL GameDay Morning.
Hill, who is dealing with foot and left hand injuries, did not practice this week and will be absent in Week 14 despite his questionable status. Hill has started in half of New Orleans’ games this season, and has contributed in every area of the game, collecting 346 rush yards, 229 receiving yards and 72 pass yards while lined up at multiple positions, including QB. He has accounted for six total touchdowns, four of them on the ground. Another tight end on the Saints’ roster, starter Juwan Johnson, was also listed as questionable with a quad injury.
Carr will, however, have his top wide receiver available versus Carolina, as Olave is active and expected to be on the field with the offense despite missing both Thursday and Friday after popping up on the injury report with an illness. But Shaheed, on the other hand, did not practice all week due to his thigh injury, and will not play.
The Saints and the Panthers will kick off in New Orleans at 1 p.m. ET.
Other injuries we are keeping an eye on ahead of Sunday’s Week 14 games:
- Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (illness) was added to the injury report and is expected to play versus the Eagles, the team announced.
- Houston Texans wide receiver Noah Brown (knee) is active to play Sunday versus the Jets. Safety DeAndre Houston-Carson (illness) was downgraded to out.
- Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (high ankle sprain) is active and will start in Sunday’s game versus the Browns, the team announced.
- Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, who is questionable with a knee injury, is expected to play Sunday versus the Vikings, Rapoport reported.
- Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (groin) is a true game-time decision for Sunday’s game versus the 49ers, per Rapoport. Rapoport added that after running backs Kenneth Walker III (oblique) and Zach Charbonnet (knee) were full participants in Friday’s practice, a sign both should play Sunday.