Do-it-all Saints tight finish Taysom Hill transformed a key fourth down with one other bodily run on a direct snap — and that was his closing play of the afternoon.
After a career-best efficiency towards the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans’ earlier recreation, Hill was carted off the sector with a left knee harm at 4:36 of the fourth quarter as New Orleans tried to drive for a tying landing towards Sunday the Los Angeles Rams.
The Saints concern Hill has suffered a knee harm that can price him the remainder of the season, This was reported by NFL Media.
The Saints received one other first down on Derek Carr’s run on the Rams 16, however after three runs by Alvin Kamara for 7 yards, edge rusher Jared Verse hit Carr’s arm whereas throwing on fourth down with 1 :09 left, and the ball sailed towards the bottom.
Hill’s standing was as a lot a subject of dialog because the 21-14 loss, the Saints’ first in three video games beneath interim coach Darren Rizzi.
Hill, a fan favourite, waved to the group as they chanted his identify as he was carried off the sector. It stays to be seen whether or not will probably be the final time the 34-year-old performs this 12 months. But he regarded severe as teammates knelt close by as coaches examined Hill on the sector.
“I’m not a medical individual in any respect,” Rizzi mentioned. “I’m not going to go down that highway as a result of I’ve already heard dangerous issues and it is good and I’ve already heard good issues and it is dangerous. So we’ll simply let the medical challenge play out.”
In an injury-riddled season for the Saints (4-8), this one might be as damaging because the others. During the Saints’ earlier recreation — a 35-14 win over the Browns — Hill ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries, caught eight passes for an additional 50 yards, accomplished an 18-yard move and returned a kickoff 42 yards.
Despite lacking 4 video games this season, he’s tied for the group lead in dashing touchdowns with six and is second behind Kamara in dashing yards with 278 whereas taking part in tight finish, quarterback, fullback and infrequently lining up as a operating again .
“Taysom is a participant that you do not see plenty of within the league. So having him in your group makes an enormous distinction,” Saints tight finish Juwan Johnson mentioned. “It’s not all the time the perfect factor to not have him round. We do not know what is going on on, however ultimately it is not straightforward.”
If Hill have been to take a seat out for an prolonged interval, the offense would not be the identical. The Saints have already misplaced prime receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed for the 12 months.
“We have to vary some issues,” sort out Taliese Fuaga mentioned. “Taysom is an enormous a part of this offense, an enormous a part of this group total.”
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The defeated Saints misplaced a pair extra gamers to accidents. Shortly earlier than Hill’s departure, guard Nick Saldiveri was additionally sidelined with a left knee harm.
Late within the third quarter, security Tyrann Mathieu went out with a shoulder harm after tackling Rams operating again Kyren Williams, although Mathieu mentioned after the sport that he could be positive.
New Orleans was already with out beginning middle Erik McCoy, who re-injured his groin towards Cleveland in Week 11 after lacking the earlier seven video games and didn’t get better throughout the Saints’ Week 12 bye.
“I really feel like we have managed to compartmentalize every part,” Carr mentioned. “I assumed our focus was good. Nick will get harm after which Taysom will get harm and, like, the rallying cry is, ‘Let’s do it for them.’ I assumed our guys have been actually centered.”
The Saints have been hoping to maneuver again into the NFC South race. A win would have moved them inside a recreation of Atlanta and Tampa Bay for first place.
Instead, Carr’s landing move to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Dante Pettis’ 2-point conversion early within the fourth quarter weren’t sufficient.
The Rams scored touchdowns on three of their first 4 possessions within the second half and ran out the ultimate 69 seconds after Carr’s pressured incompletion.
“I can not say the phrase I need to say as a result of my mother all the time will get mad after I say it and she or he texts me each time,” Carr mentioned when requested how he felt after the sport. “But I’d say indignant, upset as a result of we count on a lot of us as a group. It hurts.”
Associated Press reporting.
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