The New Orleans Saints haven’t been at full strength to start their 2019 training camp. Besides the obvious absence of All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas (who is holding out in a bid to speed up contract negotiations), the Saints have been without running back Javorius Allen through their first three practice sessions. Allen signed with New Orleans in as a free agent back on May 28, having spent his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
Whether Allen’s absence is due to a recent injury or simply dealing with a personal matter is unknown; the Saints are notorious for sharing few details on the status of absent players, and no information on Allen has been forthcoming from head coach Sean Payton. For all we know, Allen might report for work tomorrow. He could also wait another three days before making his debut.
In related news, veteran running back Theo Riddick is scheduled to visit the Saints soon. Riddick is a passing-down specialist much like Allen, having logged 247 receptions and caught 10 touchdowns over the last four years (Allen has caught 129 passes, scoring six touchdowns in that same time). On the ground, Riddick has gained 947 rushing yards on 259 attempts with four scoring runs, a clip of 3.7 yards per carry (Allen has picked up 1,240 yards on 340 rushes, also at 3.7 yards per attempt, but hit the end zone eight times).
If Allen is dealing with some ailment and can’t go, Riddick makes plenty of sense as someone to replace him. The Saints could also carry both backs on the 90-man roster and have them compete for a spot when it’s time to slim down to just 53 roster spots.
