Kelvin Banks Headed for Ankle Surgery, Out Indefinitely for Saints

The Saints' offensive line just took a serious hit. Ian Rapoport reports that additional testing on left tackle Kelvin Banks revealed an ankle sprain bad enough that he's expected to need surgery, leaving him out indefinitely. A return, if it happens at all, projects for late in the season.

That's a big deal for a player who's been an anchor since day one. Banks was a first-round pick in 2025 and had started every one of the 19 games New Orleans has played since he arrived. Iron-man availability is exactly the trait you want from a blindside protector — and now it's gone for months.

Asim Richards stepped in for Banks against Baltimore and is the likeliest candidate to inherit the starting job. That's a meaningful drop in pedigree at one of football's most important positions, and it happens the same week the Saints try to steady an offense that already had questions.

The Fantasy Fallout

Offensive linemen don't fill your lineup, but they quietly move the needle for everyone around them. A downgrade at left tackle means more pressure on the quarterback, less time for routes to develop, and shakier lanes for the run game. If you're rostering Saints skill players, this news trims their weekly ceiling until Richards proves he can hold up.

The clearest read is on the ground game. Alvin Kamara's efficiency leans heavily on clean edges and a functional front, and swapping a first-round tackle for a backup rarely helps. Treat Kamara as a matchup-dependent play rather than a set-and-forget starter while this shakes out.

Bottom line: don't panic-drop anyone, but temper expectations. Monitor how Richards grades out over the next couple of weeks, watch the pass-protection numbers, and keep your Saints options in flex or streamer territory until the line stabilizes. Banks won't be back soon, so plan like he's shelved for the bulk of the year.