With just a few weeks to go before the start of the 2022-23 NFL, it looks like the New Orleans Saints will be without their first-round offensive lineman for a while as former Northern Iowa star Trevor Penning has suffered a “significant” foot injury.
According to Ian Rapoport, an MRI revealed that Penning suffered a torn ligament in his foot during the Saints’ preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday and will need surgery. Saints’ head coach Dennis Allen confirmed the news on Monday, calling Penning’s injury a “significant toe injury” that will keep him sidelined indefinitely.
Penning was competing with fellow offensive lineman James Hurst for the Saints’ starting offensive tackle spot. With Penning now out indefinitely with an injury, it looks like Hurst will now get the starting nod, at least to begin the season.
Earlier this season, Penning made headlines when he was kicked out of the team’s practice earlier this month after a shoving match with a teammate.
“We don’t have time for that,” Allen said, per Katherine Terrell, ESPN. “I sent two guys in today and we’ve got to get our work done. We’ve got to learn as a team how to compete and how to play and how to practice and push ourselves to the limit but yet not take it over the edge.
“It’s not unusual for something like that to occur in training camp. It’s certainly something we don’t want to see happen. It’ll be addressed and we’ll move forward.”
Despite Penning’s problematic practice, the Saints will undoubtedly be disappointed to see their first-round pick injured to start his rookie season.
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