Saints standout left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. will undergo surgery for a severe high ankle sprain after being carted off and ruled out during the Saints’ eventual Week 2 win over the Ravens. He is out indefinitely, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who noted Banks “has a chance to return late in the season if all goes well.”
Banks got rolled up on awkwardly after a Mike Green sack and immediately collapsed in clear pain.
Banks was emerging as a stalwart for New Orleans, and his injury is a big one. The Saints had to go to Asim Richards, a fourth-year pro who has just five career starts, to protect Tyler Shough’s blind side. With Richards in, the Saints used an extra running back or tight end to chip in pass protection
The No. 9 pick in 2025 out of Texas, Banks started all 17 games last season and was showing real strides late in the season. Across the final five weeks of the year, he was Pro Football Focus’ 12th-rated offensive tackle.
Banks is part of a talented young offensive core for New Orleans, a group that includes Shough, wide receiver Chris Olave and right tackle Taliese Fuaga. Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, the No. 8 overall pick in 2025, is yet to make his NFL debut due to a hamstring injury, but when he’s healthy, he oozes potential, too.
The Saints (1-1) could look for outside help. The only other tackle on the roster after Banks, Fuaga and Richards is Mason Murphy, a 2026 undrafted free agent. Though Richards played well as the Saints rallied, the unit is quite thin and inexperienced.