The first injury report of the week for the New Orleans Saints was a tough one. Many of the essential players who were already questionable for their Week 13 game, plus another key player, were listed as nonparticipants in practice.
New Orleans needed health on its side if it wanted any chance of beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the situation has worsened.
Latest Updates on the Saints’ Injuries
As mentioned, some of the Saints’ most important players were absent from practice. These players were RB Alvin Kamara, S Justin Reid, WR Chris Olave, and Taliese Fuaga, and most of them remained out on Thursday. Olave was able to return, but in a limited fashion, which is still a positive sign. Still, another name was added to the report: rookie S Jonas Sanker, who has a head injury and did not practice.
Thursday’s #Saints vs Bucs injury report pic.twitter.com/HtbOaGjuww
— Tina Howell (@TinaHowellNOLA) December 4, 2025
The Saints already face the possibility of being without starting safety Reid, a setback that would significantly impact the defense. With Sanker also listed as a potential absence for Sunday, New Orleans’ safety group could emerge as a notable vulnerability against the Buccaneers.
Looking at total defensive rankings in PFSN’s Defensive Impact Metric, the Saints are currently 19th overall. One reason the team isn’t ranked lower is its yards-per-play allowed. New Orleans’ defense has been very good at preventing big plays.
One of the primary reasons the Saints have remained strong in that area is the performance of their safeties, who have played effectively and limited opponents from attacking deep.
In his rookie season, Sanker has emerged as one of the defense’s bright spots. While he has not produced a major play in recent weeks, he has consistently avoided mistakes. Tackling has been a notable weakness for the unit, but Sanker has stood out as one of the team’s more reliable tacklers.