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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara showed up unexpectedly for voluntary offseason training on Wednesday, saying he was “literally” lying in bed a day earlier when he thought to himself, “Hey, I’ll go tomorrow.”
Kamara, who normally skips optional team workouts to train alone, and who had missed the previous week’s work at Saints headquarters, seemed to relish the opportunity to surprise his teammates and coaches.
“Obviously, a little unexpected,” coach Kellen Moore said.
“It’s good to see it,” Moore added. “I’m excited to get to spend a little time with him and see where he’s at.”
Kamara, meanwhile, might have a better idea of the Saints’ plans for him as he approaches his 31st birthday and 10th NFL season.
The career Saint is entering the final year of his contract, and uncertainty about his future with New Orleans has only increased since the club signed free agent running back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract.
“As you navigate some of the things in the business, hiring Travis and navigating how all these pieces work together, that’s always a little bit of a challenge as you build your staff,” Moore said Wednesday.
It would arguably be unwise for the Saints to pay Etienne upfront money while also paying Kamara the entirety of his two-year, $24.5 million extension that took effect last season.
This offseason, general manager Mickey Loomis and Moore have hinted that Kamara could be traded or released if he doesn’t renegotiate his contract to make it more team-friendly under the salary cap.
Kamara has been receptive to the prospect of playing with Etienne, saying, “I think we will complement each other well,” and was vague on Wednesday about whether he would agree to new terms.
“I haven’t had any conversations about it. So I don’t know,” Kamara said. “There’s a time and a place for everything, and if that conversation comes up, then I’ll have an answer for you.”
Meanwhile, Kamara shows no signs of anxiety or dissatisfaction over his uncertain future.
“I wouldn’t say it’s uncomfortable for me,” Kamara said. “For my part, I don’t feel pressure; there are no problems or hard feelings. I’m doing what I do every year, working. If there are decisions to be made, they will be made.
“I still have a contract here. So I’m a saint,” Kamara added. “If something happens, we’ll go from there.”
Battling a knee injury last season, Kamara posted career lows in games played (11), rushing yards and touchdowns (471 and one), and receiving yards and touchdowns (186 and zero).
It’s a far cry from the start of Kamara’s career in 2017, when he was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in what was the first of four consecutive playoff campaigns for the Saints under coach Sean Payton and Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees.
But the Saints haven’t made the playoffs since Brees retired after the 2020 season and have had their second coach since then. Moore was hired after winning a Super Bowl as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator during the 2024 season.
“I’m used to winning. So there’s been a lull for a while,” Kamara said. “It’s unfortunate. It’s upsetting. It’s frustrating when you’re a part of this, when you know what it can be, what it’s like to win.”
Linebacker Demario Davis, the leader of those playoff teams, left in free agency. Other unsigned veterans include defensive end Cameron Jordan, the club’s all-time sacks leader, and Taysom Hill, who serves as tight end, running back, backup quarterback and special teams leader.
For Kamara, not seeing those players in the locker room “hurts a little, but you have to be realistic.”
“I’m going to be ready and we’ll see what happens,” Kamara said. “It’s a two-way business, you know, on the team side and the player side… Nothing takes me by surprise.”
Asked if he hopes to return to the Big Easy next week, Kamara said, “I might be. New Orleans is a beautiful city.”
Associated Press information.
