Before we dive into any hard-hitting analysis about the Las Vegas Raiders' Week 3 matchup with the New Orleans Saints, it is important to know who will even be available. And even at this early juncture in the 2026 NFL season, no team is healthy, as they are all missing key players or are very banged up.
The Saints will already be down starting left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., as he was placed on IR with an ankle injury. This will make life tougher for Kellen Moore and the New Orleans offense, as the Saints now have a supremely below-average duo starting on either end of the offensive line.
And Banks is far from the only player that New Orleans has counted on through the first two weeks who may miss Sunday's showdown or could be out there at less than 100% with fewer practice reps. Travis Etienne and others popped up on the initial injury report ahead of the game.
Saints are dealing with plenty of injuries before Week 3 matchup with Raiders
Although last week proved that Wednesday practice designations aren't always indicative of who may suit up on game day, it's still important to monitor. So, it is notable that Etienne and seven other Saints were banged up, limited, or out altogether in their first practice preparing for the Silver and Black.
Player | Position | Injury | Wednesday Practice Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Travis Etienne Jr. | RB | Hamstring | Limited |
Chase Young | DE | Calf | Limited |
Jonas Sanker | DB | Knee | Limited |
Christen Miller | DT | Toe | DNP |
Barion Brown | WR/RS | Hamstring | DNP |
Nathan Shepherd | DL | Hip | Limited |
Martin Emerson Jr. | CB | Shoulder | DNP |
Isaiah Stalbird | LB | Shouder | Full |
Kellen Moore didn't get into the details of any of the injuries during his Wednesday press conference, so all Raider Nation has to work with are simple designations. But several key players not taking the field and a handful of others being limited is not ideal for Moore's team when it is all injury-related.
Las Vegas, of course, has plenty of injuries to work through as well, and their injury report was longer than it was at this time last week. It will be interesting to see how these change over the week, and we will continue to monitor the progress of players on both teams ahead of Sunday's game.
Travis Etienne, Chase Young and Jonas Sanker would be big losses for New Orleans
Etienne is obviously the team's starting running back, and New Orleans paid him $52 million in March to anchor the backfield. He hasn't gotten off to the hottest start, but if he's banged up, then the Saints may have to rely on an aging Alvin Kamara, who isn't far removed from an injury either.
Young has been one of the best players on the New Orleans defense, and he dominated the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 with seven pressures and 1.5 sacks. If Young doesn't play, that would be a huge loss for the Saints and a huge sigh of relief for Las Vegas.
Sanker is a solid safety for New Orleans, even if he gives up a lot through the air. And Miller was a player who Raider Nation liked as a potential option in Round 2 of April's draft, but he didn't play well in the opener, and he missed last week. Shepherd is also a solid piece in their interior rotation.
Brown hasn't done much on offense, but he's a lethal player in the return game, as he had a 53-yard return in Week 2 and is always a threat on punts. Emerson Jr. doesn't play a whole lot, and he's struggled when he has, and Stalbird is a core special teamer for New Orleans.
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