New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara will miss the start of the new NFL season after suffering a knee injury.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kamara suffered a sprained MCL in a recent practice as the Saints prepare to try to take a step forward following an encouraging end to a 2025 season in which they finished 6-11 in Kellen Moore’s first year as head coach.

That injury is set to sideline Kamara for around a month, making him unavailable when the Saints kick off their 2026 season at the Detroit Lions on September 13.

It is another setback for the Saints, who will be without rookie first-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson for two months due to a hamstring injury.

Kamara’s absence likely means Travis Etienne, an unrestricted free agent signing this offseason, will take on a greater share of the workload while the veteran is on the sidelines. While the full 53-man roster will not be finalised until the end of the month, Kamara’s injury could also mean that Devin Neal and Kendre Miller receive some carries in the early weeks of the season.

A free agent next offseason, the 31-year-old Kamara has racked up 12,198 scrimmage yards and scored 87 touchdowns in a career that has seen him named to the Pro Bowl five times.