Before his 21-day practice window was opened this week, New Orleans Saints defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon admitted he was ready to come back even two weeks earlier. The Saints chose to play it safe, but the fact the 30-year-old felt physically able to go was rather remarkable when considering the injury he was dealing with.
Kpassagnon tore his Achilles just seven months ago.
Interim coach Darren Rizzi said the Saints had yet to decide whether Kpasssagnon would make his season debut Sunday when the Saints host the Los Angeles Rams. But after returning to practice, Kpassagnon was a full participant for three straight days — which suggests he’s ready to go, if needed.
The surprisingly fast recovery isn’t lost on the defensive end, either.
“It felt like a while to me, but I know in the grand scheme of things, it was definitely really quick,” Kpassagnon said. “So I just feel lucky.”
Kpassagnon, who joined the team in 2021, has been a solid rotational piece for the Saints when healthy. He had 3 ? sacks in 17 games last season, playing nearly 37% of the defense’s snaps. The Saints valued Kpassagnon for his positional flexibility as the defensive lineman can play on the end and inside at defensive tackle.
During OTAs last April, Kpassagnon was participating in an individual drills when he felt a “pop” in his left Achilles. Soon, doctors confirmed the seriousness of the injury – but gave Kpassagnon a sliver of hope. They told him the recovery timetable would be seven-to-nine months, giving him a shot at possibly returning in the season. Former coach Dennis Allen, too, left open the possibility the lineman could return when asked by reporters.
“I looked at the schedule, and I’m like, ‘All right, I can make it back for at least five, four games,’” Kpassagnon said.
There’s no guarantee, however, Kpassagnon will be back against the Rams. NFL rules allow teams to take up to 21 days to activate a player from injured reserve, or the physically unable to perform list in this case. New Orleans would also have to clear a roster spot to make room for the defensive lineman, too.
But the Saints have recognized how much Kpassagnon wants to return. Rizzi said there was no player in the building more often than Kpassagnon as he focus on rehabbing his injury.
Rizzi also acknowledged that the Saints could have had Kpassagnon return to practice two weeks ago, but they didn’t want to start his clock with the bye week looming.
But on Tuesday, after Kpassagnon’s first practice back, Rizzi had the defensive lineman break the team’s huddle at the end of the session.
“Sometimes it’s really easy to get frustrated, especially with the rehab process, so kudos to him,” Rizzi said. “He’s just been grinding through the rehab, and to see him out (at practice) in pads, with a helmet on, it’s been a big build up for him.”