New Orleans Saints left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. sustained an ankle injury during the team’s matchup against Baltimore on Sunday. Banks was rolled up on awkwardly following a sack by Mike Green and was subsequently carted off the field. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Banks, who was selected ninth overall in 2025 out of Texas, had been a key contributor for the Saints offense. The player started all 17 games in his inaugural season and demonstrated improvement as the year progressed. During the final five weeks of the season, he registered as the 12th-rated offensive tackle according to Pro Football Focus rankings.
With Banks sidelined, New Orleans turned to Asim Richards to protect quarterback Tyler Shough’s blind side. Richards, a fourth-year veteran, has recorded just five career starts. To compensate for the adjustment at left tackle, the Saints employed additional pass protection help from extra running backs and tight ends.
Banks is part of an emerging offensive unit for the Saints that includes Shough, wide receiver Chris Olave, and right tackle Taliese Fuaga. Fellow 2025 draft pick Jordyn Tyson, selected eighth overall, has not yet appeared in an NFL game due to a hamstring injury but represents additional upside once healthy. Should Banks require extended time away, the team’s tackle depth would be tested, with the roster featuring only Mason Murphy, an undrafted free agent from 2026, as an additional option at the position.
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