Saints news: Kelvin Banks Jr. needs ankle surgery, out indefinitely

On Sunday afternoon, the New Orleans Saints picked up their first win of the season on the road against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens , in epic comeback fashion. Still, it wasn't all positive vibes for the Saints that afternoon, as offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. went down with an ankle injury that caused him to be carted off the field.

On Monday, the team got the latest update on Banks Jr.'s recovery process, and it wasn't a good one.

"OT Kelvin Banks Jr suffered a severe high-ankle sprain and is now expected to have surgery to repair it, tests revealed today. He is out indefinitely. Banks, one of the top young OTs, has a chance to return late in the season if all goes well. But a significant loss," reported NFL insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network on X, formerly Twitter.

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Banks has indeed established himself as an elite young prospect on the offensive line for the Saints since being drafted by the team in the first round out of Texas last year.

He played a big role in protecting Tyler Shough through the first game and change this season, and it will be interesting to see how the Saints' offensive strategy might change as a result of his absence.

As Rapoport mentioned, it's not off the table that Banks Jr. could return at some point this season, but clearly, the team isn't preparing for him to be back anytime soon.

The Saints will next hit the field on Sunday vs the Las Vegas Raiders .