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The New Orleans Saints finally got to enjoy a hard-fought victory, but it came with a major caveat up front.
Speaking the day after the Saints upset the Buccanears 24-20, head coach Kellen Moore confirmed that starting offensive tackle Asim Richards is dealing with a high-ankle injury. Moore called it a “high ankle” and said the team will “just kind of see how this thing progresses,” adding that the lineman could “potentially miss some time” as the Saints head into the final stretch of the season.
The injury hit in the middle of a game where Moore repeatedly praised his team’s resilience, physicality and complementary football. Special teams set the tone with a big kickoff return to open the game, the defense came up with key fourth-down and turnover plays, and the offense leaned on the ground game in difficult weather conditions.
Now, one of the linemen who helps make that style possible is suddenly a question mark.
Moore highlighted how backup lineman Will Sherman stepped in after the injury, praising Sherman for staying ready and handling a tough situation on short notice. Sherman has position flexibility across the line, and Moore noted that the staff has looked at him as a player who could potentially line up “in about every position” up front when needed.
Even with that positive, losing a starting tackle to a high-ankle issue is the kind of news that can linger beyond one week.
What the Asim Richards Injury Means for the Saints’ Offensive Line
A high-ankle injury for Richards immediately tests the Saints’ depth and continuity on the offensive line.
Moore has been clear all year that he wants his offense to run the football and play a physical brand of ball. That showed up in this win, where New Orleans leaned into the ground game in the rain and trusted rookie quarterback Tyler Shough’s legs and running back Devin Neal’s physical style to carry the load.
Up front, though, that identity depends on stability.
With Richards sidelined or limited, Sherman and the rest of the reserve linemen are thrust into bigger roles. Moore said he was “proud” of how Sherman answered the call, stepping in without warning and holding his own in a game that demanded toughness in the trenches.
The staff now has to decide how much they shuffle. Sherman has experience at both guard and tackle, which gives Moore options if the Saints want to keep as much continuity as possible at certain spots while plugging the new hole elsewhere. The coach has already emphasized that the group is “creating habits” every day and building an environment for long-term success, but he also acknowledged the obvious — in the NFL, culture ultimately shows up in wins and losses.
With four games left, any dip in protection or run-blocking could swing tight contests, especially in division matchups.
Run Game, Penalties & Final Stretch for New Orleans
The timing of the injury is tricky because so much of what went right in this win flowed through the offensive line and the run game.
Moore praised Neal’s “physicality,” ball security and the way he finishes runs with his pads over his feet, constantly “stealing” extra yards. He also pointed to Shough’s ability to extend plays and make clutch throws late, including a big third-down completion over the middle while taking a hit.
All of that success will be harder to sustain if the line is reshuffled and a key starter is limited or out.
Moore also acknowledged that the Saints have to clean up their penalty issues. It was their first game since Week 3 with double-digit penalties, and he pointed out several infractions on offense that he views as fully under their control — mostly pre-snap and one post-snap. That becomes even more important if they’re relying on backups up front; negative plays and flags put the offense behind the chains and limit how often Moore can lean on the run.
Still, the coach’s message was clear: the final four weeks are about finishing strong and reinforcing the habits he wants to define this program.
“We’re creating habits and we’re creating an environment to be a really successful program,” Moore said, noting that there are “four more opportunities” to show that on the field.
For the Saints, the hope now is that Asim Richards can recover quickly from the high-ankle injury — and that the offensive line can hold together long enough for those habits to start turning into wins.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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