Saints rule three defenders out; Fant and Werner questionable for Atlanta

New Orleans ruled three defenders out Saturday for Monday night's game against Atlanta, while tight end Noah Fant and linebacker Pete Werner remain questionable. The final report leaves the Saints preparing without Kaden Elliss, Carl Granderson and Anfernee Jennings, and still waiting on two players with established roles.

Elliss is out with a calf injury, Granderson with an ankle injury and Jennings with a knee injury. None practiced during the three-day preparation week. Werner also missed all three sessions with a shoulder injury but received a questionable designation rather than being ruled out.

Coach Kellen Moore expressed confidence in linebacker Danny Stutsman's preparation in a clip published Saturday by NewOrleans.Football. Moore said Stutsman had opportunities late last season and early this year and that the team trusts him when he takes the field. The remarks address depth behind the injured linebackers without announcing a new starting assignment.

Fant was limited in all three practices because of an abdominal injury. His availability affects a tight end group that has supplied much of New Orleans' early scoring. The team's Saturday feature reports that Fant and Juwan Johnson each have three touchdown catches through three games, accounting for six of the Saints' nine red-zone touchdowns.

That production has come on a relatively small number of catches for Fant: eight receptions for 66 yards on 12 targets. Johnson has 15 catches for 173 yards on 19 targets. Both scored twice in last week's 35–27 loss to Las Vegas. Fant's questionable status leaves one of those red-zone options unresolved before the division matchup.

Several other Saints finished the week without game designations. Receiver Barion Brown progressed from limited work to a full Saturday practice despite a hamstring injury, and safety Julian Blackmon practiced fully Friday and Saturday after opening the week limited with a calf issue. Defensive tackle Christen Miller also finished with a full practice after earlier toe-related limitations.

Atlanta's final table lists linebackers Divine Deablo and Yasir Abdullah and edge Samson Ebukam as questionable. Deablo remained limited with a hamstring injury, while Ebukam practiced fully Saturday and Abdullah returned to full work after an illness. Those practice changes did not remove their game designations.

Ken Daley's independent report for WVUE confirmed the Saints' absences and Atlanta's three questionable defenders. Both clubs enter Monday at 1–2. New Orleans' confirmed defensive losses and Fant's unresolved status are the central personnel questions heading into the rivalry game at the Caesars Superdome.