New Orleans Saints helmet (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The New Orleans Saints have been hit with some tough injury news on the offensive side of the ball ahead of training camp.

On Thursday evening, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the New Orleans Saints will be without star offensive tackle Ryan Ramcyzk for the entire 2024 season because of his knee injury.

Not only that, but Rapoport added that Ramcyzk’s career “could be over” as well.

Per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, Ramcyzk told reporters last year that his knee cartilage is deteriorating. The 2017 first-round pick missed seven games in 2021, one contest in 2022 and five last year.

The New Orleans Saints used their first-round pick (14th overall) on Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga. Had Ramcyzk been cleared to play, some wondered if the team would have moved struggling 2022 first-round pick Trevor Penning to guard.

But with Ramczyk out for the season, and with no other proven guys to replace him, the Saints will likely go with a Penning-Fuaga bookend tandem. The good news is their interior o-line remains a strength with star center Erik McCoy and guard Cesar Ruiz leading the way.

The New Orleans Saints also have the option to sign or trade for a veteran offensive lineman if they’re not sold on a Penning-Fuaga starting tandem for Week 1. Two-time Super Bowl champion Donovan Smith, ex-Green Bay Packers All-Pro David Bakhtiari and longtime Seattle Seahawks/Houston Texans star Duane Brown are among the free agents available.

New Orleans Saints Open 2024 Season vs. Carolina Panthers

The Saints will look to jump out to a 1-0 start when they host Bryce Young and the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers at the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 8.

New Orleans easily swept the season series of a Carolina team that finished as the worst in football a year ago. So this will be a good test for Young as he looks to shake off a tough rookie year.

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