Asim Richards is Ready to Step Up for the Saints in Kelvin Banks Jr.’s Absence

Losing your starting left tackle is never part of the plan, especially when that tackle is Kelvin Banks Jr., a young cornerstone the New Orleans Saints selected ninth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. But this is the NFL, and injuries have a way of testing a team's depth before anybody is ready for the exam.

Now it's Asim Richards' turn.

Banks suffered a severe high ankle sprain during the Saints' 24-17 victory over the Baltimore Ravens and has since been placed on injured reserve following a procedure to repair the injury. Before going down, Banks had started every game of his NFL career,  all 17 games as a rookie and the first two games of 2026.

That's a major piece to replace. But after watching Richards step onto the field against Baltimore, I don't think Saints fans should automatically assume the offensive line is about to fall apart.

Richards looks ready for his opportunity.

What impressed me most about Richards against Baltimore wasn't that he was perfect. He wasn't. It was that the moment didn't appear too big for him.

Richards entered with the Saints trailing 17-9 late in the third quarter. From that point, New Orleans put together consecutive 68-yard touchdown drives, scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and walked out of Baltimore with the win. Quarterback Tyler Shough completed 12 of 14 passes for 119 yards after Richards entered, accounting for a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown during the comeback.

That's exactly what you want from a backup offensive lineman.

Don't panic. Don't try to become Superman. Get into the huddle, understand the assignment and keep the offense moving.

Saints coach Kellen Moore said Richards "held his own" in difficult pass-protection situations and described him as a steady player who consistently puts himself in good position.

To me, that's important because left tackle isn't a position where you want excitement. If we're spending the entire afternoon talking about your left tackle, there's a decent chance something went wrong. Sometimes boring is beautiful.

Richards isn't some rookie being thrown into the fire.

Dallas selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and New Orleans acquired him from the Cowboys before the 2025 season. He appeared in 15 games for the Saints last season and started four at right tackle. He also has experience playing left tackle from his time in Dallas.

That versatility matters now.

The Saints aren't asking Richards to learn how to play NFL football overnight. They're asking a fourth-year player who already knows the offense and has experience on both sides of the line to move into a larger role.

Richards also believes he's better prepared than he was a year ago. After replacing Banks against Baltimore, he said having more time in the Saints' system allowed him to feel more comfortable and simply "plug right in" when his number was called.

That's exactly what New Orleans needs.

Here's where expectations need to stay reasonable. Richards doesn't have to become Banks.

Banks was drafted ninth overall for a reason. New Orleans views him as a long-term building block, and replacing that kind of talent isn't as simple as sliding another name into the starting lineup.

Richards' limited 2026 sample also shows there is room for improvement. Through his first 28 offensive snaps this season, PFF has credited him with two pressures allowed, including one quarterback hit, but no sacks or penalties.

That's not enough playing time to make sweeping conclusions either way. What matters now is consistency.

If Richards can keep Shough clean, avoid drive-killing penalties and give the running game enough movement on the left side, he's doing his job. New Orleans doesn't need him chasing individual accolades. The Saints need him making sure the offense can continue functioning while Banks recovers.

Now comes the hard part.

Coming off the bench is one thing. Preparing all week knowing you're the starting left tackle is something completely different.

Opposing defensive coordinators know where the change occurred. They're going to test Richards. They're going to move rushers around, bring pressure toward his side and see whether they can create communication problems between Richards and left guard David Edwards.

That's why Sunday's home game against the Las Vegas Raiders is important.

Richards will have an entire week of first-team preparation instead of being forced into action during the middle of a game. Moore has already said the Saints intend to give him as many practice reps as possible.

Now we get to see what he does with them.

I'm not expecting Asim Richards to walk onto the field and suddenly make Saints fans forget about Kelvin Banks Jr. He doesn't need to.

What I want to see is a player who looks comfortable, communicates with the rest of the offensive line and doesn't allow one bad snap to turn into three bad snaps. Protect Tyler Shough's blindside, give the running backs a crease and keep the offense on schedule.

Richards has already shown he can come off the bench in a tough road environment and help New Orleans finish a comeback victory. Now he gets the opportunity to prove that performance wasn't just a nice moment — it was a preview of what he can provide as a starter.

Banks' injury unquestionably hurts the Saints. But this is also why you build offensive-line depth before the season begins.

Asim Richards has been waiting for his number to be called. Now it's time to see what he can do with it.