Dillon Radunz injury means Saints rookie Jeremiah Wright must step up

The New Orleans Saints experienced a setback at their training camp on Sunday, as head coach Kellen Moore disclosed that offensive lineman Dillon Radunz has been diagnosed with a torn ACL in his knee. This injury is likely to end his season and significantly impact the Saints' depth chart, which is already lacking veteran backups in several positions. Radunz was originally slated to be the sixth man to dress for games and step in at either guard spot. The team now faces the challenge of adapting to this change.

One potential solution to fill the void could be rookie fourth-round draft pick Jeremiah Wright, a guard from Auburn. Wright has been performing well in team drills, practicing alongside the third-string offense at right guard. However, Wright has been sidelined since August 5 due to a shoulder injury that has kept him out of action for three days and counting.

The Saints had initially planned to move Cesar Ruiz to center on the second-string offensive line for a couple of practice days. However, the Radunz injury has altered their plans. Currently, second-string guard William Sherman sits between Ruiz and Wright on the depth chart. Sherman made a couple of appearances late last season when Ruiz was sidelined with an injury, but his performance was inconsistent.

In order for the Saints to navigate the remainder of the season without Radunz, Wright's speedy recovery and ability to climb the depth chart will be crucial. The sooner Wright is fit to play, the better it will be for the team.