The Extra Point
With questions about his health and contract put to rest, Saints running back Alvin Kamara has become the center of New Orleans’ offense early this season and set himself up to enjoy a career year.
The fourth-year running back and 2017 offensive rookie of the year leads New Orleans in rushing, receiving and touchdowns through three games, but notes he’d be having more fun doing it if the Saints were winning more.
Kamara has seen two strong performances against the Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers go for naught in two straight losses that have dropper the Saints to 1-2 as they travel to Detroit this weekend.
“It’s no fun losing. But me just as a player, it’s not fun being injured,“Kamara said, alluding to a knee injury that slowed him for much of last season. “So, obviously, now that I’m healthy, (I’m) definitely having fun, but definitely the main thing (is to) try to get some wins.”
Kamara has 153 yards and three TDs rushing, along with 285 yards and three TDs receiving. He’ll likely be a focal point again with top receiver Michael Thomas (ankle) and tight end Jared Cook ( groin) both ruled out.
Kamara has scored twice in each game this season. And if he scores at least twice from scrimmage against Detroit on Sunday, he will join Hall of Famer Jim Brown and former Lions receiver Calvin Johnson as the players in league history with two-plus TDs rushing and/or receiving in his team’s first four games.
“Now that I’m healthy, I’m just kind of returning back to my normal self, and feeling good,” Kamara said.
Or maybe he’s the best he’s ever been. Through his first three seasons, his best, statistically, was 2018 when he had 1,592 yards and 20 touchdowns from scrimmage. For now, he’s on pace for more than 2,300 yards and 30 TDs.