Knee Injury Causes Saints Right Tackle to Retire from the NFL

This time last year in ’24, many New Orleans Saints fans were anticipating an incredible season ahead of them. This conclusion was attributed to many factors, including players remaining from the ’23 to ’24 season, an adjustment to the roster with new and fresh talent, and prioritizing starting QB Derek Carr from again ending up for several weeks on the sidelines with an injury. Their first regular season game proved the positive effect of the changes with an incredible 37-point deficit in their win against the Carolina Panthers, followed by another win with 44 points over the 19 scored by the Dallas Cowboys.  However, that momentum began to fade with a loss to the Eagles in Week Three, followed by another loss this time to the Falcons, and another five consecutive losses before they ended the seven-game losing streak with a Week 10 win over their second playing of the Falcons.

One of the questions the fans asked, and the analysts debated at the conclusion of the seven losses, was, “Why couldn’t they easily win those games when you look at the point difference?” For example, the Week Three loss was only by three points, and Week Four was by two points. When you look at the stats for those seven consecutive games and notice that three of those games were lost by three points or less, you can appreciate the offense’s capabilities. Who doesn’t like seeing the football handed off to a receiver who could end up running for 30 yards?  Who doesn’t hope for a “long bomb” down the field to an unguarded player and can bolt down along the line without going out of bounds? Who doesn’t like to see their team on the one-yard line and score with the quarterback jumping on the defensive pile while pointing the tip of the ball across the goal line?

Although you may not know many of their names, there are some players on your team who have an important and sometimes overlooked responsibility. If you don’t recall seeing New Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk on the field at any point during this recent season, there was a reason for his absence. He spent the ’24 season with a knee injury from which he couldn’t recuperate well enough to play. Mr. Ramczyk began his career at New Orleans in 2017, playing and starting all 16 games. Ramczyk continued this trend in the next four seasons, except for missing one start protecting QB Drew Brees before his own 2020 retirement. In 2021, he was sidelined due to a knee injury but did manage to play 10 games. He was able to return in 2022 to play 16 games, but Ramczyk’s 2023 season was interrupted by another knee injury and his inability to return to the field. This week, the Saints’ right tackle made the difficult decision to retire from the Saints due to the continuing injury.