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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara unexpectedly showed up to a voluntary offseason workout Wednesday, saying he was “literally” lying in bed a day earlier when he thought, “Hey, I’m going tomorrow.”
Kamara, who usually skips optional team practices to practice alone, and who had missed the previous week’s work at Saints headquarters, seemed to relish the opportunity to surprise his teammates and coaches.
“It’s obviously a little unexpected,” coach Kellen Moore said.
“It’s good to see it,” Moore added. “Happy to be able to spend some time with him, 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 over his future with New Orleans has only grown since the club signed free agent Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract.
“When you’re navigating certain deals, signing Travis and kind of navigating how all those pieces work together, it’s always a little bit of a challenge when you’re building your roster,” Moore said Wednesday.
It would arguably be unwise for the Saints to pay Etienne starting money while paying Kamara in full on his two-year, $24.5 million extension that took effect last season.
This offseason, general manager Mickey Loomis and Moore hinted that Kamara could be traded or released if he did not renegotiate his contract to make it more team-friendly under the salary cap.
Kamara has been receptive to the idea of playing with Etienne, saying: “I think we’ll complement each other well,” and was vague on Wednesday about whether he might agree to new terms.
“I haven’t had any conversations about it. So, I don’t know,” Kamara said. “There is a time and a place for everything, and if this conversation happens, then I will have an answer for you.
In the meantime, Kamara shows no signs of anxiety or dissatisfaction with his uncertain future.
“I wouldn’t say it’s uncomfortable for me,” Kamara said. “For my part, I don’t feel any pressure; there is no beef or hard feelings. I do what I do every year, I work. If there are decisions to be made, they will be made.
“I’m still under contract here. So, I’m a Saint,” Kamara added. “If something happens, we’ll go from there.”
Dealing with 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 the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in what was the first of four straight 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 been their second coach ever since. Moore was hired after winning a Super Bowl as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator during the 2024 season.
“I’m used to winning. So it’s been a bit of a lull here for a little while,” Kamara said. “It’s unfortunate. It’s boring. It’s frustrating when you’re part of it, when you know what it can be, what it feels like to win.”
Linebacker Demario Davis, a leader on those teams in the playoffs, left in free agency. Other unsigned veterans include defensive end Cameron Jordan, the club’s all-time sack leader, and Taysom Hill, who serves as a tight end, running back, backup QB and special teams leader.
For Kamara, not seeing these players in the locker room “it stings 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 thing, you know, on the team side and the players side. … Nothing catches me off guard.”
Asked if he expected to be back in the Big Easy next week, Kamara said, “I might be. New Orleans is a beautiful city.”
Associated Press reporting.
