The New Orleans Saints have officially indicated that veteran fullback John Kuhn could be returning from injured reserve, as reported by Nick Underhill of the Advocate. Kuhn suffered a torn biceps during practice sessions in London, prior to the Saints’ dominant shutout victory against the Miami Dolphins. Since then, Zach Line has stepped in and performed admirably in Kuhn’s absence.
This designation opens a three-week practice window for Kuhn to demonstrate his fitness and readiness for game action. This situation is reminiscent of cornerback Delvin Breaux’s attempted return, which was unfortunately cut short due to an improperly diagnosed leg injury. Breaux was ultimately unable to recover sufficiently to play in the 2017 season. The earliest Kuhn could potentially rejoin the Saints on gameday would be during the divisional round of the playoffs.
For insights into Kuhn’s activities during his injury rehabilitation, John Katzenstein’s article on NOLA.com offers a compelling look. The veteran fullback has remained engaged with the team, actively assisting position coaches and advance scouts.
This development effectively rules out a potential return for rookie linebacker Alex Anzalone, who re-injured a pre-existing shoulder issue early in the Dolphins game. NFL teams are limited to just two “designated to return” tags per year, a constraint that often sparks debate.
If Kuhn is healthy enough to return to the Saints roster, he could provide a significant boost to an offense that has occasionally struggled on critical short-yardage plays. Kuhn has established himself as a reliable option in these crucial situations, converting an impressive 12 out of 14 attempts for a first down when needing three yards or less in the previous season. Prior to his injury in 2017, Kuhn had one carry for two yards, successfully gaining a first down. His injury occurred when the Saints had a crowded backfield with Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara, and Adrian Peterson all vying for carries.
The coming weeks will reveal the outcome of Kuhn’s attempted return. Similar to Breaux’s situation, it’s possible Kuhn may not be ready to play this season. Conversely, he might return revitalized and ready to bolster the Saints’ running game as they head into the playoffs. Perhaps Saints head coach Sean Payton is even considering an innovative “full-house” backfield package featuring Kuhn, Line, Ingram, and Kamara, potentially with Taysom Hill as a wildcat quarterback option.
Regardless of how this situation unfolds, the Saints’ decision to designate Kuhn for return underscores their clear expectation to be contenders in the playoffs, and their desire for John Kuhn to be part of that playoff journey.
