The New Orleans Saints earned an impressive 24–17 comeback victory over the Baltimore Ravens, but the win came with a potentially costly loss.
Starting left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. suffered a severe high-ankle sprain late in the third quarter and is expected to undergo surgery. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Banks will be out indefinitely but could return late in the season if his rehabilitation goes well.
Banks was injured with approximately 2:20 remaining in the third quarter when his left leg was rolled up from behind during a Mike Green sack of quarterback Tyler Shough. The second-year tackle immediately went down, required a cart to leave the field and was quickly ruled out.
An MRI conducted Monday confirmed the severity of the injury.
Why This Is a Major Loss for New Orleans
Banks has been one of the Saints’ most dependable young players since being selected ninth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The 22-year-old started all 17 games during his rookie season and the first two games of 2026. Protecting Shough’s blind side, Banks had become an important piece of the young offensive foundation New Orleans is building under head coach Kellen Moore.
This will be the first game action Banks has missed during his NFL career.
Losing a starting left tackle is always difficult, but the timing makes this injury especially concerning. New Orleans will host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3, and whoever starts at left tackle could see significant work against elite pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
What Is a Severe High-Ankle Sprain?
A high-ankle sprain involves the syndesmotic ligaments connecting the tibia and fibula above the ankle. Those ligaments help keep the lower leg and ankle stable when an athlete pushes off, changes direction or absorbs rotational force.
That makes the injury different from the more common ankle sprain involving ligaments on the outside of the joint.
High-ankle sprains generally require longer recovery periods because the syndesmosis is stressed during nearly every movement an offensive lineman must make. Pass protection, anchoring against power rushers and driving defenders in the running game all place substantial pressure on that area.
The Saints have not announced the exact grade of Banks’ injury or the specific procedure he will undergo. However, surgery is generally required when doctors believe the syndesmosis needs additional stabilization.
What Is Banks’ Potential Recovery Timeline?
There is no official return date, and “out indefinitely” should be taken seriously.
Research involving professional athletes who underwent surgery for unstable syndesmotic injuries found an average return-to-play time of approximately 65 days. Football-related estimates for more serious injuries can extend from nine to 16 weeks.
That gives the Saints a broad planning window of approximately two to four months—not a guaranteed timetable for Banks.
A late-November or December return is possible if surgery and rehabilitation go smoothly, which matches the report that Banks could return late in the season. The Saints must avoid rushing one of their most important young players back before his ankle has regained its strength and stability.
Asim Richards Becomes the Immediate Replacement
Fourth-year offensive lineman Asim Richards replaced Banks against Baltimore and is the leading candidate to start at left tackle.
Richards entered the NFL as a fifth-round selection by the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. The Saints acquired him before the 2025 season, and he has appeared in 38 NFL games with five starts.
He also has legitimate left-tackle experience. During his final season at North Carolina, Richards started 14 games, played more than 1,000 snaps at left tackle and allowed only three sacks.
His performance against Baltimore was encouraging, although it came in a limited sample.
Richards reportedly allowed two pressures over 15 pass-blocking snaps, but he did not surrender a sack. After Banks left the game, the Ravens did not record another sack of Shough.
New Orleans scored 15 fourth-quarter points while completing the comeback. Shough went 12-of-14 for 119 yards and a touchdown in the final quarter, finishing the game with 252 passing yards, one passing touchdown and the game-winning rushing score.
Kellen Moore praised Richards following the victory.
“I thought Asim did a good job of stepping in there,” Moore said. “That is a good front. They’re a talented front, and he did a really good job of stepping in there.”
Richards was not perfect, and the Saints finished with only 65 rushing yards, but he helped keep the offense functional during its two biggest scoring drives.
Other Options on the Active Roster
The simplest solution is keeping Richards at left tackle and leaving Taliese Fuaga at right tackle. That allows the Saints to replace only one position instead of disrupting both sides of the offensive line.
Another possible alignment would move Fuaga to left tackle and use Richards or rookie Mason Murphy on the right side. Fuaga has experience protecting the blind side, but moving him would force two starters to adjust positions.
Murphy, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound rookie, is another developmental option. However, he was inactive against Baltimore and would represent a considerably less experienced choice than Richards.
Saints Practice-Squad Options
New Orleans currently has three offensive tackles on its practice squad:
Easton Kilty
Kilty may have the strongest left-tackle résumé among the practice-squad candidates. The 6-foot-6, 307-pound lineman started 13 games at left tackle during his final season at Kansas State and earned second-team All-Big 12 recognition.
He also has experience at left tackle, right tackle and guard from his college career. Kilty would be a logical candidate for promotion if Banks is placed on injured reserve.
Alan Herron
Herron is a 6-foot-3, 308-pound rookie who started 24 consecutive games at right tackle for Maryland. He also played both tackle positions earlier in his college career at Shorter University.
His experience is primarily on the right side, but his versatility makes him another emergency option.
Alex Wollschlaeger
The 6-foot-7, 310-pound Wollschlaeger made 51 starts over 56 college appearances between Bowling Green and Kentucky. Most of his experience came at right tackle, including all 12 games during his final season at Kentucky.
Wollschlaeger offers outstanding size and extensive starting experience, although moving him to the quarterback’s blind side would require an adjustment.
Which Free Agents Could New Orleans Consider?
The Saints should also explore the veteran market. Availability can change quickly, but several experienced tackles have recently been listed as free agents.
Cam Robinson
Robinson would be one of the most experienced natural left tackles available. He has extensive starting experience and could provide a legitimate short-term option if he passes the Saints’ medical and conditioning evaluations.
D.J. Humphries
The former Pro Bowl left tackle was released by Washington on September 11 and remains available. Humphries has starting experience and was recently medically cleared, but his recent injury history would require a thorough evaluation.
Joseph Noteboom
Noteboom has experience at left tackle and guard. His positional flexibility could make him valuable even if Richards remains the starter.
George Fant or Cornelius Lucas
Fant and Lucas are experienced veteran swing tackles who could provide reliable depth without forcing the Saints to make major changes across the entire offensive line.
What Should the Saints Do?
New Orleans should give Richards the first opportunity to start. He knows the offense, handled a difficult in-game assignment in Baltimore and helped protect Shough during the fourth-quarter comeback.
The Saints should also promote Kilty or another practice-squad tackle to provide game-day depth while bringing multiple veterans—including Robinson and Humphries—in for workouts.
Against Las Vegas, Moore and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier can help Richards through quicker passing concepts, running-back chips, tight-end assistance and play-action designed to slow Crosby and the Raiders’ pass rush.
Replacing Banks will not be easy. However, Richards showed enough against Baltimore to earn the first shot.
The Saints’ larger challenge will be surviving the coming weeks without allowing one major injury to derail the offensive progress shown during their comeback victory.
Sources
- Reuters: Kelvin Banks Jr. scheduled for ankle surgery
- New Orleans Saints: Ravens game recap
- New Orleans Saints: Kellen Moore postgame comments
- NBC Sports: Asim Richards’ pass-protection performance
- New Orleans Saints: Current roster and practice squad
- Hospital for Special Surgery: Understanding high-ankle sprains
- Sharp Football Analysis: Available offensive tackles