New Orleans is set to get a key offensive weapon back, as the Saints plan to activate running back Travis Etienne for Sunday's game against the Panthers, according to Tom Pelissero. Etienne has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 3, spending roughly a month and a half on injured reserve. After returning to practice this week, he was upgraded to a full participant on Friday.

Etienne, a Louisiana native and former Jaguar, was among the marquee offseason additions for the Saints, signing a four-year, $48MM deal to return to his home state. Several teams pursued him in free agency, and the Broncos were reportedly "shocked" they did not land him. The investment has been slow to pay off so far: he has appeared in only three of the Saints' eight games and has managed just 30 carries, though he has averaged 4.3 yards per attempt, close to his 4.2 career mark. In those three games he has totaled 128 yards rushing and caught 11 passes for 51 yards.S1S2

The Saints' ground game has been a problem, ranking 26th in the NFL in rushing and 27th in yards per carry (3.8) at the midpoint of the season. Quarterback Tyler Shough leads the team in rushing with a 4.8-yard average, while Alvin Kamara has averaged 3.3 yards on 47 carries. Kendre Miller, who led the team in carries with 57, was released last week after averaging just 2.8 yards per attempt. The struggles led to the firing of run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti on Nov. 2, though the offense improved after the bye, when New Orleans rushed for 160 yards in a 23-22 overtime win over the Browns, with Audric Estime gaining 72 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.S1

The stakes are significant for a team sitting at 3-5 and tied with the Panthers for the best record in the NFC South. Sunday's matchup in New Orleans will decide first place in the division, and a healthy Etienne running effectively could help keep the Saints in the race.S1S2