The New Orleans Saints are set to play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, but they’ll be doing it without the player their offense is typically built around.
Heavy previously reported that the Saints received a final update on Alvin Kamara’s Week 15 status this week. Multiple reports and game-day injury confirmed it: Alvin Kamara is out for Week 15 against Carolina. With the veteran sidelined again, the Saints’ “who replaces him?” answer is starting to look clearer: rookie Devin Neal is expected to get the first shot as the lead back.
Sunday’s matchup is Panthers at Saints, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET.
Saints Expected to Lean on Devin Neal With Kamara Out
Neal has already been operating as the Saints’ primary fill-in while Kamara recovers. A Week 15 fantasy-focused preview from SB Nation notes Kamara’s continued absence due to an MCL sprain and points to Neal as the back expected to remain in the lead role.
“Devin (Neal) was awesome… [he] really lead that run game, the physicality… the finish,” Saints coach Kellen Moore had said after Neal helped the Saints upset the Buccaneers in Week 14.
That same preview highlights Neal’s Week 14 workload and production, including 19 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If you’re looking for the clearest recent indicator of how New Orleans wants to play without Kamara, it’s that: a healthy chunk of carries for Neal, plus early-down and scoring chances.
Depth chart listings also show Neal directly behind Kamara at running back, with other backs behind him. So even before you get to “game script,” the depth chart reality points to Neal being the first name up.
What the Rest of the Saints Backfield Could Look Like
The Saints’ bigger question isn’t just “who starts?” — it’s “how do the touches get divided?”
When a team loses a do-everything back like Kamara, there are usually two ways to patch it:
- give one replacement a heavy workload, or
- spread touches across multiple players and try to recreate Kamara’s impact in the aggregate.
Neal is the most likely candidate for the bulk of carries, but New Orleans can still mix in other backs for specific situations (short yardage, passing downs, two-minute offense). ESPN’s depth chart page lists additional RB options behind Kamara and Neal, indicating the Saints have other bodies available if they want a committee look.
The matchup is also part of the Sunday-morning appeal here. SB Nation’s Week 15 preview frames Carolina as a defense that can be attacked on the ground, noting the Panthers rank 24th in rushing EPA. If the Saints can keep the game close or play from ahead, that’s the kind of opponent that encourages a run-first plan — which would likely mean more Neal.
What It Means for the Saints Offense vs Carolina
Kamara being out changes how defenses play New Orleans, especially in the screen game and quick throws where Kamara often functions like a second slot receiver.
If Neal continues to hold the lead job, the Saints may try to simplify the plan: steady carries, avoid negative plays, and keep the offense on schedule. That approach also helps a team protect its quarterback and control tempo, especially in a divisional matchup.
For Saints fans, the big Sunday storyline is straightforward: New Orleans needs someone to be “the Kamara role” for a day — and right now, Devin Neal is the closest thing to that on the roster.
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