The New England Patriots go on the road to face the New Orleans Saints in week 2 of the 2017 NFL season and the Saints could be missing their two best offensive linemen due to injury.
Earlier this offseason, Saints C Max Unger suffered a foot injury that required surgery and could hold him out for the start of the season. There is a chance Unger could return late in the preseason, but he certainly won’t be 100% when the Patriots come to town. Patriots LB Dont’a Hightower has to be thrilled at the possibility of blitzing up the middle.
Now the Saints are in even more trouble as LT Terron Armstead suffered a shoulder injury that should keep him sidelined for the next four-to-six months.
Sources: #Saints star LT Terron Armstead is scheduled for surgery on Monday to repair a torn labrum. The timetable to return is 4-6 months.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 16, 2017
Armstead and Unger are the Saints two best offensive linemen so these injuries will seriously impact the New Orleans offense early in the season.
The Saints will likely turn to rookie OT Ryan Ramczyk, who New Orleans drafted with the 32nd overall pick in the 2017 Draft; that’s the same pick the Patriots sent to New Orleans for WR Brandin Cooks.
The Patriots had better be ready to take advantage of these weaknesses in the Saints offense. There won’t be a better chance for EDGE Trey Flowers to put the entire league on notice.