Saints Face Injury Woes: Four Starters Sidelined on Initial Week 14 Injury Report

The New Orleans Saints' preparations for their Week 14 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been complicated by a lengthy injury report released today, Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The initial report reveals a significant number of key players who did not participate in practice, most notably four crucial offensive and defensive starters are currently sidelined.

The team's depth will be tested as they monitor the status of these foundational players throughout the week, especially coming off a tough loss where several players sustained new or aggravated existing injuries.

The Sidelined Four: Starters Who Did Not Participate (DNP)

The four starters listed as "Did Not Participate" in Wednesday's practice are:

Taliese Fuaga | Ankle: Dealing with a new ankle injury after recently returning from an issue with the other ankle. His status is a significant concern for the offensive line.

Alvin Kamara | Knee/Ankle: Continues to deal with the lower body injuries that forced him to miss the Saints' Week 13 game.

Chris Olave | Back: Olave is managing a lingering back issue that limited him last week. His DNP is reportedly related to maintenance.

Justin Reid | Knee: Sustained a knee injury during the last game against the Miami Dolphins and his potential missed time could be a substantial blow to the secondary's leadership.

Impact on the Week 14 Matchup

The absence of these four players creates immediate challenges on both sides of the ball as the Saints prepare for an important divisional contest:

Offensive Line Concern: The loss of starting right tackle Taliese Fuaga is especially worrying. The offensive line will need to find a way to maintain pass protection and run blocking against the Buccaneers' defensive front without their anchor.

Running Back Depth: With star running back Alvin Kamara potentially missing his second consecutive game, the Saints will rely on the tandem of Devin Neal and Evan Hull to carry the load in the backfield.

Receiving Corps: Though Chris Olave's DNP is partially noted as maintenance, his nagging back issue could limit his effectiveness even if he does return to practice later in the week.

Secondary Leadership: Safety Justin Reid is a defensive captain. His absence due to a knee injury will leave a leadership void in a young defensive backfield, potentially increasing the risk of communication errors against a capable Buccaneers passing attack.

What To Expect

The team has two more days of practice, Thursday and Friday, to determine the readiness of these key starters. Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore will undoubtedly be fielding questions about the players' progress as the week unfolds. For now, the injury report presents a major hurdle the New Orleans Saints must overcome to secure a win.