Still No Timeline for Saints Corner's Return

The New Orleans Saints are 3-6 following a thorough 27-13 defeat on Monday Night Football to the Baltimore Ravens, and reasons for hope are dwindling. Head coach Dennis Allen refused to put a timeline on the return of star cornerback Marshon Lattimore, casting doubt on his availability for the team's Week 10 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dennis Allen said that Marshon Lattimore is progressing. No timeline for a return yet.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) November 8, 2022

Lattimore has been unavailable since the team's Week 5 39-32 win over the Seattle Seahawks due to an abdomen injury. The Saints have lost three of their four games during his absence, allowing 33 points per game in the three defeats.

A four-time Pro Bowler, Lattimore will provide the Saints with a huge boost once he returns, but the hour is growing late. The Saints are already down fellow starting corner Bradley Robey, and they can't afford many more losses this season if they hope to make the playoffs. However, if Lattimore has to miss another game, the Saints could do worse than the Steelers. The former AFC North powerhouse ranks 31st in points scored this season

Lattimore initially joined the Saints as their 11th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He earned a Pro Bowl and the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in an amazing rookie season, and he has been a stalwart on the Saints defense ever since. He had been off to one of the better starts of his career this season before his injury, allowing a 71.2 passer rating on throws in his direction through five games.