NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 27: Andrus Peat #75 of the New Orleans Saints (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Andrus Peat was carted off the field against the Packers
The New Orleans Saints were finally starting to find a groove against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, as Drew Brees had them ahead 17-13 at halftime. Not everything was all rosy for Sean Payton, however, as veteran left guard Andrus Peat had to be taken off the field on the cart.
Peat was carted off the field late in the second quarter, as a teammate accidentally fell on his lower leg near the end of a play in New Orleans’ two-minute drill. The severity of this injury currently remains unknown.
Andrus Peat is a key member of New Orleans’ elite offensive line
Injuries have been a problem for Peat, as he has missed nine games over the last two seasons. Despite all of that, Peat has been named a Pro Bowler in each of the last two seasons. Peat signed a five-year, $57 million contract this offseason, keeping one of the best linemen in the league in New Orleans.
The Peat injury means that starting guard Nick Easton will shift over to the left side. Cesar Ruiz, a former center a Michigan that New Orleans picked in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, will slide in for Easton on the right side. Given Green Bay’s quality defensive line, Ruiz will have his hands full in one of his first extended doses of NFL action.
Hopefully, Peat can return to action in the near future, as the immobile Brees needs a rock-solid offensive line to get the ball out of his hands quickly. If Peat has to miss some time and an unproven rookie in Ruiz has to replace him, New Orleans’ offense could start going down the tubes in short order.