Saints Lose Defensive Powerhouse Kpassagnon in Season-Opening Injury

The New Orleans Saints will be without one of their top defensive players at the start of the season due to a major injury. During his press conference, head coach Dennis Allen announced that defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon had torn his Achilles during the offseason. While Kpassagnon will be out for the time being, Allen mentioned that there is hope he could make a return later in the year.

Kpassagnon began his professional football career as a second-round pick for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017 before joining the Saints as a free agent in 2021. In his time with the Saints, he has amassed 9.5 sacks over the past three seasons. During the 2023 season, he recorded 3.5 sacks along with four tackles for loss and nine quarterback hits while playing a rotational role in all 17 games. He was on the field for 37 percent of defensive snaps and 14 percent of special teams snaps.

Overall, Kpassagnon has accumulated an impressive resume during his time with the Saints, with 16.5 career sacks to his name, along with 22 tackles for loss and 41 quarterback hits in just over three years on the team. While his absence will be felt by the Saints, there is optimism that he could make a return later in the year and contribute once again to their defense.