by Niles Carpenter/Saints Contributor

New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara is set to miss the first three games of the 2023 NFL regular season due to a suspension issued by the league for violating its personal conduct policy.

The suspension stems from a February 2022 incident in Las Vegas that led to Kamara’s arrest on battery charges. In July of the same year, he pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace, avoiding a potential felony battery charge that carried a much more severe penalty.

As part of the resolution, Kamara was ordered to complete 30 hours of community service and pay restitution to the victim for past due medical expenses.

The 27-year-old running back expressed remorse and contrition for his actions, admitting that he made a terrible decision that caused embarrassment to himself, his family, the New Orleans Saints, the city, and the NFL. He emphasized that he never intended to cause harm to anyone and deeply regretted the consequences of his actions.

Kamara also met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss the incident, and he hopes to learn from this experience and grow as a person and a player.

With the suspension, Kamara will miss crucial games against the Titans, Panthers, and Packers, leaving a significant void in the Saints’ backfield. However, he will be eligible to return in Week 4 when the Saints face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Until then, the team will have to rely on other players to fill the void and maintain their competitive edge. Kamara’s suspension serves as a reminder of the NFL’s commitment to upholding its personal conduct policy and sends a message to all players about the consequences of their actions off the field.