2019 ScheduleAll times ET

2019 Schedule
5-1, 1st in NFC South
Photo by Scott Clause/The Advertiser via USA Today Network
17hMike Triplett

Saints rule out RB Kamara, TE Cook vs. Bears

Running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Jared Cook, who rank second and third on the Saints in passing targets behind wide receiver Michael Thomas, won't play Sunday against the Bears.

Cruz: Saints just know how to win (1:50)
2d

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) and TE Jared Cook (ankle) remained absent from Saints practice Thursday. Both could be in jeopardy of missing Sunday's game at Chicago if they don't return to the practice field on Friday. Obviously that would be quite a double whammy to the Saints' offense if both players can't go since they rank second and third on the team in passing targets.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

When asked how the Saints offense would handle the loss of RB Alvin Kamara if he can't play this week, QB Teddy Bridgewater used himself as an example of the next-man-up mentality. And he pointed to the total team approach that has lifted the Saints.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

The Saints signed veteran RB Zach Zenner on Wednesday while Alvin Kamara's status remains in doubt because of ankle and knee injuries. Kamara was not present for the brief portion of practice open to the media on Wednesday. But it was just a light walk-through session. We should know more about Kamara's status Thursday and Friday. Kamara suffered the ankle injury last week, then tweaked his knee during Sunday's game, according to coach Sean Payton. But he was able to finish the game.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

Punter Thomas Morstead has been a huge part of the Saints' success in Drew Brees' absence — and he has been getting the proper recognition for it. Morstead was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season after Sunday's 13-6 win at Jacksonville, in which five of his six punts were downed inside the 15-yard line. Morstead was also names the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September.

Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire
4dMike Triplett

Saints CB Williams gets two-game suspension

Saints cornerback P.J. Williams, who was arrested on a drunken-driving charge in January but pleaded guilty to a reduced charge, has been suspended two games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

This Just In  

New Orleans Saints cornerback P.J. Williams has been suspended for the next two weeks of the season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

Saints RB Latavius Murray's fiancée gave birth to their son Friday. Then he had season highs of 11 touches and 79 yards in Sunday's 13-6 win at Jacksonville. "It's been a crazy 72 hours, but to finish it off with a win and the birth of my son back in New Orleans, I can't complain at all right now," said Murray, who also had a potential long TD on a screen pass that was nullified by a holding penalty.

Seth Walder ESPN Analytics 

After a slow start to the season, Marshon Lattimore is red hot. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, when he's been the nearest defender to the targeted receiver... Weeks 1-3: 17-25, 319 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, 10.3 completion percentage above expectation. Weeks 4-6: 7-18, 87 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, -15.6 completion percentage above expectation. That second set includes today's stats: the Jaguars were 1-7 for 23 yards and an INT when Lattimore was the nearest defender.

6d

Bridgewater stays unbeaten as Saints beat Jaguars 13-6

Teddy Bridgewater found Jared Cook for a 4-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and the New Orleans Saints held on to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 13-6 on Sunday and improve to 4-0 without injured starter Drew Brees.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

For the second time in three weeks, the Saints' defense carried them to a slugfest win with a dominant performance. They silenced "Mishew Mania" and shut down the NFL's hottest running back in Leonard Fournette while escaping Jacksonville with a 13-6 victory. And they are now improbably 4-0 in Drew Brees' absence, even though backup QB Teddy Bridgewater didn't have his best day Sunday.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

TE Jared Cook is having his best game yet with the Saints -- on a day when they really needed him. He has three catches for 37 yards with one touchdown and two third-down conversions. The TD was a very impressive leaping grab behind Jaguars safety Jarrod Wilson in the back of the end zone for the only touchdown of the game so far.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

The Saints got the first turnover of the game -- an interception by Marshon Lattimore. But they had to settle for another FG after Teddy Bridgewater missed on two throws to Michael Thomas inside the 10-yard line (one low and one high). It also didn't help that Thomas was flagged for a holding penalty earlier on the drive, nullifying a potential TD by RB Latavius Murray.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

The Saints have only 11 rushing yards on eight carries at halftime of a 3-3 slugfest at Jacksonville. It is their second-lowest total since 2014. And the passing game hasn't been much better, with Teddy Bridgewater completing only 14 of 22 passes for 126 yards. The Saints would be thrilled to sneak out of here with their fourth straight victory today. Turnovers (there have been none so far) and big plays will be at even more of a premium than usual in the second half.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

Teddy Bridgewater started 6-of-13 passing Sunday at Jacksonville after he completed 75 percent of his passes over the past three games (all victories). One of those incompletions was questionable (a deep ball to Ted Ginn Jr. that looked like a possible catch but wasn't overturned after a replay review). But Bridgewater was also uncharacteristically off-target on a handful of other throws. He did finish the first quarter with a 27-yard completion to Ted Ginn Jr. though.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer 

You'd think the Saints wouldn't have to worry about the heat since they train in New Orleans and are in the midst of one of the hottest Octobers on record. But it's still rare for them to actually play games in these conditions since they play in a dome. Temps should be in the mid-80s with humidity above 50 percent today in Jacksonville.

Team Stats

Passing Yards240.315th
Rushing Yards104.319th
Points For21.3
Points Against20.3