METAIRIE, La. (AP) — New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr., one of the club's top free-agent signings this year, is being placed on injured reserve, coach Kellen Moore announced Thursday.
The move means Etienne, who pulled a hamstring during the third quarter of Sunday's 35-27 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, will miss a minimum of four games. His earliest possible return would come against the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 8.
Against the Raiders, Etienne had a season-high 19 carries for 57 yards when he pulled up lame along the right sideline at the end of a 16-yard run.
The Saints' top remaining running backs are veteran Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller and rookie CJ Donaldson, all of whom are expected to pay Monday night against Atlanta.
Kamara will be entering his third game since coming back from a training camp knee injury.
Miller was a healthy scratch in the Saints' win at Baltimore, in part because Donaldson has thrived in pass blocking. Now Miller, a fourth-year pro out of TCU, could become a central figure in New Orleans' ground game.
“I'm the next man up,” said Miller, who played in just 21 games combined during his first three seasons because of various injuries. “I've got to take my opportunity while I can, put some good stuff on tape.”
Miller, a 2023 third-round draft pick, noted that because his injuries have been largely non-contact pulls and strains, he feels fresh and explosive.
“This is like the perfect opportunity to show people that I'm the player I've always been,” he said.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. (3) carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)
DUBLIN (AP) — Protesters against Ireland playing its Nations League games against Israel interrupted the team's 2-2 draw with Austria on Thursday by throwing tennis balls onto the field.
Referee Allard Lindhout sent the players for a hydration break as soon as the balls bearing Palestinian flags landed on the grass with Ireland 1-0 up after 19 minutes played.
“I think it kind of helped us in a good moment,” Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson told broadcaster RTÉ of the protest. “We could have a breather and some drinks. But you're never happy with this, but understand it and respect it.”
Troy Parrott had opened the scoring in the 12th with a brilliant individual goal despite facing three defenders. He played the ball through the legs of one defender and eluded two before shooting the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs.
The game resumed after a four-minute break, but there was another brief diversion when a man carrying a Palestinian flag tried running onto the field before being stopped by stewards.
At halftime, RTÉ published a statement from the “Stop the Game” initiative claiming responsibility for the tennis ball action and declaring it over.
Members of the group had also gathered before the game to oppose Ireland's matches against Israel because of Israel’s actions in Gaza. A small gathering displayed a Palestinian flag and banners in support of Ireland player Gavin Bazunu, who decided Saturday to boycott both of his team’s matches against Israel.
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign also organized a protest outside the stadium, as well as others around the country.
They’re calling for Ireland to boycott its remaining Nations League match against Israel — Ireland’s “home” game though it’s set to be played without any fans present in in Backa Topola, Serbia on Sunday.
The Football Association of Ireland moved the game to an neutral venue for “operational reasons” in June following widespread calls for a boycott. It also followed the FAI’s own motion the previous November calling on UEFA to ban Israel from club and international competitions.
The “Stop the Game” initiative, which on Wednesday issued an open letter to the squad and Hallgrimsson asking them not to play on Sunday, has also asked the Irish government and FAI to cancel the game.
Ireland already played Israel’s “home” game in Debrecen, Hungary last Sunday, when the Irish players wore black armbands and scored three first-half goals to win 3-0.
The players deliberated for hours Saturday on whether they should play at all after Bazunu informed the coach that morning that he wished to withdraw from both games.
FAI chief executive David Courell said the players voted and that a “a significant majority” were in favor of playing. Widespread reports suggested the vote was 14-8 in favor, excluding Bazunu, who had already departed.
Bazunu, Ireland’s reserve goalkeeper, was back in the squad for Austria’s visit.
Finn Azaz, whose mother has Israeli heritage, played from then start after being left out against Israel.
Parrott made it 2-0 before the break with a penalty, but Austria struck back in the second half through Alexander Prass and Michael Gregoritsch.
The Irish team has been coming under increasing pressure in Ireland, where affinity with Palestinians is strong, to boycott both games against Israel.
The FAI has resisted the calls, arguing the team could be hit with punishing sanctions by UEFA. Ireland is co-hosting the 2028 European Championship with England, Wales and Scotland.
Irish fans also threw tennis balls with Palestinian flags onto the field during Ireland’s friendly game against Qatar in Dublin in May.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
A protestor is escorted off the field by security during the UEFA Nations League, Group B3 match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)
A tennis ball with a sticker of the Palestine flag with the text, "#StopTheGame," sits on the field after being thrown by a protester during the UEFA Nations League, Group B3 match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)
Tennis balls with stickers of the Palestine flag and the text, "#StopTheGame," are removed from the field after being thrown by protesters during the UEFA Nations League, Group B3 match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)
Ireland's Troy Parrott celebrates scoring during the Nations League soccer match between Ireland and Austria in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday Oct. 1, 2026. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)
People call on the Football Association of Ireland to boycott Sunday's soccer game against Israel near the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Cillian Sherlock/PA via AP)
People call on the Football Association of Ireland to boycott Sunday's soccer game against Israel near the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Cillian Sherlock/PA via AP)
People call on the Football Association of Ireland to boycott Sunday's soccer game against Israel near the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Cillian Sherlock/PA via AP)
People call on the Football Association of Ireland to boycott Sunday's soccer game against Israel near the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Cillian Sherlock/PA via AP)
People call on the Football Association of Ireland to boycott Sunday's soccer game against Israel near the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Cillian Sherlock/PA via AP)
