{
  "id": 18184292,
  "title": "Saints left tackle back from injured reserve a month ahead of schedule",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/saints-left-tackle-back-from-injured-reserve-a-month-ahead-of-schedule",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-04T21:25:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/saints-left-tackle-back-injured-212546980.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saints left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. has returned to practice more than a month ahead of schedule following ankle surgery in September. The Saints must decide whether to activate him from injured reserve within the next two weeks. Backup left tackle Asim Richards has struggled without Banks' support, and Richards has been tasked with more blocking duties. Banks was initially expected to be out indefinitely, but was given a best-case scenario return date of mid-December. However, Banks appears to be well ahead of expectations in his recovery. If he is ready to play, he will join the starting offense.",
  "summary": "This is a stunner. Kelvin Banks Jr. wasn’t expected back until December, but the second-year New Orleans Saints left tackle was already practicing.",
  "key_points": [
    "Kelvin Banks Jr. returns to practice early, over a month ahead of schedule.",
    "Saints must decide by next two weeks whether to activate Banks from injured reserve.",
    "Backup tackle Asim Richards shoulders more blocking duties without Banks."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}