New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara saw his production take a big dip last year. Now we know he had a good excuse.
Alvin Kamara played through multiple injuries in 2019
On a call with reporters Monday, Saints running back coach Joel Thomas gave them an inside look into just how tough Kamara’s 2019 campaign really was.
Kamara toughed out knee, ankle and back injuries last season, and Thomas said he “was playing through a lot,” per veteran Saints beat writer Nick Underhill.
Alvin Kamara had a down year in stats but is still explosive
Thomas also pointed to Kamara’s huge game against the Seattle Seahawks as a reminder of his outstanding abilities.
In that game, Kamara totaled 161 yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage to help the Saints eke out a 33-27 win over the Seahawks. That big game was the exception in 2019, however — not the rule.
All told, the electric running back totaled 1,330 yards from scrimmage. In particular, his ability to make plays after the catch, and his ability to score was minimized during the 2019 season. Kamara saw significant downturns in production in his yards-per-catch stat (6.6 last year versus 8.8 in 2018) and total touchdowns (six in 2019 compared to 18 the year before).
The big question is: Were Kamara’s injuries last year indicative of a body that will soon be unable to handle the rigors of the NFL, or were they just a blip on the radar?