It's two very different injury reports from the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons ahead of their Week 4 prime-time game at the Caesars Superdome. Just two Falcons players -- linebacker Divine Diablo and defensive end Samson Ebukam, both dealing with hamstring issues -- were limited at practice on Thursday, with a third (defensive end Za'Darius Smith) given a veteran's rest day. Outside of them, the dirty birds have a clean bill of health.
The Saints can't say the same. Veteran running back Travis Etienne Jr. is going on injured reserve for the next four weeks, if not longer, due to a severe hamstring injury. Both of their starting linebackers, Kaden Elliss (calf) and Pete Werner (shoulder), missed practice; so did defensive end Carl Granderson
(ankle) and his backup Anfernee Jennings (knee). The good news is that a couple of rookie draft picks returned to work on a limited basis. Sixth-round wide receiver Barion Brown (hamstring), a returns specialist, got on the field with second-round defensive lineman Christen Miller (toe). Other starters and key contributors like safety Julian Blackmon (calf) and tight end Noah Fant (abdomen) were also limited, while backup cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (shoulder) practiced fully after missing some time.
Here's the full Week 4 injury report to get us started:
New Orleans Saints injury report
- RB Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring): Did not participate, going on injured reserve
- EDGE Carl Granderson (ankle): Did not participate
- EDGE Anfernee Jennings (knee): Did not participate
- LB Kaden Elliss (calf): Did not participate
- LB Pete Werner (stinger): Did not participate
- S Julian Blackmon (calf): Limited
- WR Barion Brown (hamstring): Limited
- TE Noah Fant (abdominal): Limited
- DL Christen Miller (toe): Limited
- CB Martin Emerson Jr. (shoulder): Full
Atlanta Falcons injury report
- LB Divine Diablo (hamstring)
- DE Samson Ebukam (hamstring)
- DE Za'Darius Smith (not injury related/rest)
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Multiple key defenders DNP on first Saints injury report vs. Falcons
