The rash of season-ending injuries making their way through NFL training camps struck the New Orleans Saints twice this week as receiver Joe Morgan and defensive end Kenyon Coleman went down with injuries.
Morgan is one of a string of players, including Arrelious Benn, Danario Alexander and Bryan Bulaga, to suffer damaged ACLs this week and have their season come to an end before it even gets underway.
According to Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, a tackle from first-round draft pick Kenny Vaccaro caused the injury to Morgan. Vaccaro has been noted as bringing a physical presence to Saints’ practices, but Morgan says Vaccaro isn’t to blame for the end of his season.
“Don’t blame @KennyVaccaro4 It was a routine tackle. I admire how feisty a player he is too. He’s going be great for us,” Morgan tweeted.
Whether the new rules governing contact in practices are having an adverse effect on injuries remains unclear. However, Morgan’s injury is a reminder that sometimes injuries in football can just be freak occurrences that no amount of legislation will be able to avoid.