A couple of weeks ago, the New Orleans Saints were as big as 3-point favorites at Caesars Sportsbook for their Week 1 home opener against the Green Bay Packers even though oddsmakers didn't know (and still don't) who will be the Saints' starting quarterback. However, that number has since shifted to Packers -2.5 and might grow more now that the Saints will be without Pro Bowl kicker Will Lutz in addition to superstar receiver Michael Thomas, excellent defensive tackle David Onyemata and probably Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
We already knew that Thomas was going to miss the first month at least following ankle surgery in June – and team officials are definitely not happy that Thomas waited so long in the offseason to have that surgery. Reports are that Thomas failed to return multiple calls from coaches and training staff over the course of three months during the offseason and there's bit of a kerfuffle between Thomas and the team on social media as Thomas tweeted this morning that he believes the Saints are attempting to damage his reputation. That relationship could be headed for a divorce, sooner rather than later.
Onyemata is suspended the first six games after testing positive for a banned substance. He was Pro Football Focus' seventh-highest graded defensive lineman last year when he had career highs in tackles (44), sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (10), QB hits (16) and QB pressures (46).
Lattimore, a three-time Pro Bowler and 2017 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, probably is looking at a suspension after he was charged in March in Cleveland with a fourth-degree felony of receiving a stolen firearm. The case against Lattimore in Cuyahoga County Court remains open, and the league will have to make a suspension decision fairly soon. It would be an upset if Lattimore doesn't get at least dinged one game.
The latest hit to Sean Payton's team came Monday with the news that Lutz, maybe the best kicker in the NFL not named Justin Tucker, aggravated a groin injury over the weekend and could miss eight or more weeks. He will have to have surgery to fix a core muscle injury.
"Unfortunately, I found out that my training camp will be cut short due to an injury that had progressively worsened," Lutz said on social media. "After talking with our excellent medical team and training staff, as well as a second opinion from a specialist, we've decided it's in our best interest to get this fixed now in order to miss the least amount of time possible. ... I love the game of football, so sitting won't be easy, but I look forward to attacking rehab and coming back healthier and stronger to help this team win!"
Lutz was a 2019 Pro Bowler and has made 142 of 164 field goals during his career, a sensational average of 86.6 percent. That percentage ranks No. 5 in league history. He has been the team's kicker since 2016 and had never missed a game.
New Orleans is expected to have at least 11 new starters in Week 1 – of course, QB Drew Brees retired and Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill are battling to replace him -- and that's not including anyone who might replace Lattimore. New Orleans will be holding tryouts for kickers this week.
A few books already have the Packers at -3, so it might be smart to make that bet now at Caesars if planning to back Green Bay. New Orleans opens the preseason Saturday in Baltimore – Payton hasn't said yet whom his starting QB will be.
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