As expected, the Ringer's Tom Pelissero reports the New Orleans Saints plan to activate running back Travis Etienne Jr. from injured reserve for their game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The 3-5 Saints and Panthers play for sole possession of first place in the NFC South division. This will be the first action for Etienne since Week 3 back on Sept. 27 against the Raiders.
Etienne, 27, was signed to a three-year contract by the Saints in free agency last offseason. He was expected to be the lead back for a New Orleans offense that ranked 28th in rushing production in 2025, the team's first year under head coach Kellen Moore. Etienne starred at Jennings High School in Louisiana before playing collegiately for the Clemson Tigers as a three-time
All-American and twice ACC Offensive Player of the Year. A first round choice of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2021 NFL Draft, Etienne rushed for over 1,000 yards three times in four seasons between 2022 and 2025 before being signed by the Saints in free agency.
In his first three games to start 2026 in New Orleans, Etienne rushed for 128 yards and averaged 4.3 per carry. He also had 11 receptions for 51 yards. Etienne was having his best game as a Saint in Week 3 against the Raiders, rushing for 57 yards, before going down with a hamstring injury in the third quarter. He was placed on injured reserve the following week and has missed the last five games before returning to practice this week. By the end of the week, he was practicing in full capacity and was officially listed as questionable to face Carolina on the week's final injury report.
Etienne is expected to share backfield duties with Audric Estime and Alvin Kamara against the Panthers. Estime is coming off 72 rushing yards last week against the Browns, a season-high for any New Orleans runner. Kamara has 157 rushing yards and an average of 3.3 per carry over seven games this season. The Saints come into Week 10 ranked 26th in rushing with an average of 95.3 yards per game and 3.8 per carry. They'll face a Panthers defense ranked 28th against the run, giving up 4.6 per rush and an average of 133.4 yards per contest.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Report: Saints to activate Travis Etienne Jr. for Week 10 vs. Panthers
