The New Orleans Saints offensive line has been decimated by injury ahead of Thursday night’s game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. The final injury report announced that right tackle Ryan Ramcyzk, swing tackle Landon Young, and left guard/tackle James Hurst are all out of Thursday’s game. A bit of good news is that Andrus Peat will return, and he was a starter in this offense for years.
The most difficult hole to fill will be the right tackle spot. Ramcyzk is your starter and is usually replaced by Young. Both players are out with an injury. Things got so bad last week that right Hurd Cesar Ruiz moved over to right tackle.
On Thursday night your offensive line could consist of Erik McCoy as your only true starter. Trevor Penning was benched last week but will be forced back into the lineup. Peat was benched before the season and has had to return. If Ruiz stays at tackle for a game, he’ll be playing out of position with veteran backup Max Garcia potentially replacing him. Practice squad guard Tommy Kraemer filled in for Ramczyk when the Saints pulled their starters a few weeks ago, but it’s possible rookie draft pick Nick Saldiveri starts at right tackle. That’s where he played in college at Old Dominion though the Saints have been training him at left guard since drafting him. Either way, an already-suspect Saints offensive line is going to be running thin against a talented Jaguars front.
