Saints place RB Travis Etienne on IR with hamstring injury

The Saints placed running back Travis Etienne Jr. on injured reserve Thursday due to a hamstring injury, a quick turn for the back the club acquired this offseason to play alongside Alvin Kamara.

Etienne, the former Jaguars standout who joined New Orleans as part of its backfield overhaul, goes on IR after the hamstring problem lingered through the week. That leaves Kamara and rookie C.J. Donaldson Jr. to carry the load in the backfield, with the team also managing the workload on a passing game still finding its footing.

Coach Kellen Moore confirmed the designation, noting Etienne is dealing with the hamstring issue that has limited him. The 27-year-old's absence at minimum reshapes how New Orleans splits carries Sunday and could stretch the run-game responsibilities across the two healthy backs.

The IR move opens a roster spot that the Saints appear ready to use on the defensive line — New Orleans hosted a group of edge-rusher tryouts Thursday, with David Ojabo, Julian Okwara and Victor Anthony among the pass-rush candidates, per the team's beat coverage. With Ojabo a former second-round pick out of Michigan, a signing there would give the pass rush a reclamation-project option while Etienne recovers.