Report: Rookie RB to be called up from Saints practice squad vs. Lions - Saints Wire

This could be interesting. Rookie running back CJ Donaldson is expected to come up from the New Orleans Saints practice squad for Week 1's road game with the Detroit Lions, reports Nick Underhill for NewOrleans.Football. While the Saints will have Travis Etienne Jr. and Kendre Miller in the lineup, veteran rusher Alvin Kamara is questionable to play and Audric Estime has been preemptively ruled out with a thigh injury. This would be one of three times the Saints can elevate Donaldson from the practice squad before they're required to promote him to the 53-man roster.

Donaldson is a bigger back, listed at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, and the Saints took time to figure out what he could do during the preseason and training camp by moving him around the formation as a fullback and halfback. That's a role he's familiar with dating back to his time in college with Ohio State and West Virginia. We know that rookie tight end Oscar Delp isn't playing in Week 1 due to a hamstring injury so maybe Donaldson does more than take some handoffs in short-yardage situations. He could get some opportunities to pave the way as a lead blocker and stand up blitzing defenders in the backfield.

But that doesn't mean he won't get some carries. Even if Etienne is going to take the lion's share of rushing attempts, Kamara isn't likely to see many touches if he does get the green light, being so soon removed from a preseason knee injury. Miller has missed 30 of his 51 possible games with New Orleans because of injuries. It makes sense to have Donaldson available in case of an emergency, if for no other reason than to keep Kamara from being rushed into some unfavorable situations.