New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is likely to miss at least the next month owing to a sprained MCL
According to ESPN, the running back, aged 31, will play for the Saints in the 2026 season with an adjusted contract paying him a base salary of $6 million this year and the potential to earn up to $8.5 million through various incentives.
Contract Restructure & Cap Impact
Kamara had been contracted to earn as much as $11.5 million in base salary this season; however, the Saints renegotiated his contract for salary cap reasons earlier this March. Additionally, $3 million of that salary was made guaranteed last year.
Earlier this March, the Saints signed the former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year contract worth more than $12 million per year in the first three years of the deal.
Kamara’s and Etienne’s contracts have made the running back position an expensive proposition in terms of both cash and cap space for the Saints, having used $21 million in cap space on the seven running backs on the team’s roster – the most in the NFL after Kamara’s revised contract.
Before Etienne’s signing, the future of Kamara had been a matter of debate and there were even more questions raised about the Saints’ intentions to pay two running backs after the latter’s signing.
During OTAs, Kamara said that he was thrilled to play alongside Etienne, just like he had enjoyed playing alongside Mark Ingram and Latavius Murray early in his career.
Apart from age, Kamara’s declining production is another factor in speculation regarding his future. Last season, he had career low in rushing yards (471), receiving yards (186) and touchdowns (one). Kamara has ended the last two seasons with injuries.
Currently, the Saints running back depth chart is not in the best shape with Audric Estime also out with injuries sustained during Saturday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kendre Miller and Devin Neal returned to practice yesterday after being out since early August due to injuries.
