MRI reveals extent of injury to Saints rookie running back Kendre Miller

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller will not have to have surgery after suffering a knee sprain during Sunday’s preseason matchup versus the Kansas City Chiefs, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. Saints head coach Dennis Allen revealed after the game that the rookie out of TCU suffered a knee sprain.

After undergoing an MRI on Monday, it appears Miller’s injury is not severe enough to require any surgical work. Pelissero said the rookie will still miss time, but there’s “optimism” for his return by Week 1 when the Saints take on the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 10.

In the 26-24 win on Sunday, prior to his injury, Miller had four carries for a gain of five yards. He also had one catch for one yard in his NFL preseason debut.

The New Orleans Saints selected the former Horned Frogs back with the No. 71 overall pick, in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

After waiting in the wings, Miller finally got his chance to be the lead running back for TCU last season and did not disappoint. He set career bests in nearly every statistical category. Miller finished the year with 1,399 yards on 224 attempts, averaging 6.2 yards per attempt.

Miller also added 17 rushing touchdowns. His 224 rushing attempts nearly tripled his previous best of 83, and his 1399 more than doubled his previous high of 623.

The Saints continue on in the preseason with a game versus the Chargers in Los Angeles next Sunday. For the final game of the preseason, New Orleans hosts the Houston Texans on Aug. 27.

Saints facing shortage of running backs

Last week, the Saints had to place another one of their running backs on injured reserve. Former Cardinals seventh-rounder Eno Benjamin suffered an Achilles injury, ending his 2023 season before it began. The Saints claimed Benjamin off of waivers in November after the Texans dropped him. He had seven carries last season with the two teams. In 2021, he had 70 carries for 299 yards for the Cardinals, which were career highs.

Alvin Kamara, facing a three-game suspension to start the season, rushed three times for 14 yards on Sunday versus Kansas City. He also had two catches for 21 yards.

Kamara will start the 2023 season missing games versus the Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers.

Kamara was involved in a fight in Las Vegas in 2022 that initially resulted in a felony charge. The running back agreed to a plea deal last month, days before his trial was scheduled to start in Clark County.

In February, a Vegas grand jury indicted the Saints running back for assault from charges initially filed in February 2022. Kamara agreed to the plea deal late last month, days before his trial was scheduled to start in Clark County. Chris Lammons, who recently signed with the Colts, also was charged in the fight. Kamara and Lammons were former teammates with the Saints.