The New Orleans Saints are preparing for their first preseason game of the year, against the Los Angeles Chargers. While it will be the first look that fans get of many players this year, not everyone will be dressing out.

It’s a preseason game, meaning it is more important for some than it will be for others. Alvin Kamara is an example of someone who does not need to play in the preseason, and he was the first player that we knew for sure would be sitting out. Kamara is a 30-year-old heading into his ninth NFL campaign. There is no need to add unnecessary wear to his tires, to put it in his favored NASCAR terms.

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Kamara sitting out is a win for both him and the rest of the running back room. No one is questioning his role as the starter, but after him is a mess of confusion. Devin Neal will also miss the game as he deals with an injury, but there are still several backs fighting for their roster spots on Sunday. Kendre Miller, Cam Akers, Velus Jones Jr., Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Marcus Yarns could all end up on the final roster.

Chris Olave is also known to be sitting out of the preseason game, but his situation is a bit more complicated. He is dealing with an ankle injury suffered during practice earlier in the week. While it looks as though they avoided anything major, it is wise not to push him in this game. Rashid Shaheed is also sitting this one out but not due to injury. Similar to the running back room, more clarity is needed past the starters at wideout. Rookies Chris Tyree and Moochie Dixon are both managing minor injuries of their own. This will give players like Mason Tipton, Bub Means and Donovan Peoples-Jones even more opportunities to perform during a game.

Other starters who aren’t participating on Sunday include linebacker Demario Davis, center Erik McCoy, and right guard Cesar Ruiz. Backup cornerback Rico Payton isn’t available after coming down with an illness this week.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Preseason Week 1: Which Saints players aren’t available vs. Chargers?