New Orleans Saints star running back Kendre Miller has exited Week 17's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders with a concussion. With Miller out, the Saints will be down to RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jamaal Williams.
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In the second quarter, Miller was directed to the sideline tent and later went to the locker room, prompting the Saints to announce his status. Now that he has been officially ruled out with a concussion, he ends Week 17 with three carries for three yards and one catch for 16 yards on a single target.
With Alvin Kamara (groin) and Jordan Mims (coach's decision) inactive, the Saints are left with only two healthy running backs: Williams and Edwards-Helaire. Facing a depleted roster of running backs and wide receivers, New Orleans will need to navigate the second half of the matchup (and the final game of the season) with limited options, while Miller's injury history raises further concern about the potential concussion diagnosis.
Miller played college football at Texas Christian University (TCU), where he gained recognition for his strong performances as a workhorse back. Over his three seasons at TCU, Miller became one of the top running backs in the Big 12, particularly in his final year in 2022, when he rushed for over 1,400 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.
His impressive college career earned him First-Team All-Big 12 honors and helped lead TCU to the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
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Miller was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft and was expected to play a key role in the Saints' offense alongside veteran RB Kamara. However, Miller began the 2024 season on injured reserve and was activated for Week 6. A concussion this late in the season cannot spell good things for the RB, but only time will tell there.
The Raiders recently snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, the victory came against another team well out of playoff contention, meaning it did little to revive Las Vegas' postseason hopes.
On top of that, while the win provided some relief, it also pushed the Raiders further down in the 2025 NFL Draft order, frustrating their fanbase in the process.
The 5-10 New Orleans Saints, already out of playoff contention, are aiming to salvage some dignity in their final games, still reeling from a humiliating 34-0 defeat to the Green Bay Packers—the most lopsided shutout of the 2024 season.
New Orleans remains the only team to fail to score in a game this year, a performance they'd like to forget as they seek redemption. With a severely depleted roster, we'll have to see how they can do that.
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