Saints LT Kelvin Banks Jr. expected to miss significant time

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Kelvin Banks Jr. #71 of the New Orleans Saints is carted off the field after an injury against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images

New Orleans Saints standout second-year tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is expected to miss significant time after suffering a high ankle sprain in the team's win over the Baltimore Ravens, per Ian Rapoport. Banks will undergo surgery in the coming days.

#Saints OT Kelvin Banks Jr suffered a severe high-ankle sprain and is now expected to have surgery to repair it, tests revealed today. He is out indefinitely.

Banks, one of the top young OTs, has a chance to return late in the season if all goes well. But a significant loss. pic.twitter.com/Yp0g5hfHha

- Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 21, 2026

Banks is a big loss for the Saints, as the former first-round pick has been a critical piece of their young core. With Banks set to miss time, Asim Richards is expected to sub in his place. Richards was solid taking over for the starting left tackle in the second-half of Sunday's game.

Banks is expected to miss around 10 weeks, a significant jump from the original expected 4-6 weeks, but will still have a chance to make a return late in the season. With the Saints sitting at a 1-1 record, it's likely record-dependent if New Orleans decides to try and rush their promising left tackle back.

The Saints are coming off a big win and are now reaching the supposed easiest stretch of their schedule. But Week 3 won't be easy as they face the 2-0 Las Vegas Raiders and their superstar pass rusher, Maxx Crosby. Richards will likely be tested quickly by the Raiders, who will utilize the mismatch.

New Orleans' offensive line has already been spotty through the two weeks of the season, but Banks has been a bright spot. Now without the second-year standout, there may be more questions than answers for the Black and Gold's offense.