That’s not a loss the New Orleans Saints could afford. Second-year left guard Nick Saldiveri was filling in for Lucas Patrick against the Los Angeles Rams when his left leg gave out beneath him during a game and the young pro clutched at his knee while the team’s medical staff treated him.

Saldiveri was transported for further evaluation. He was the third central defender to miss this game due to injury; Both Patrick and starting player Erik McCoy were preemptively removed from the inactive list. Unfortunately for Saldiveri, this is more of a pattern for him. He has struggled with calf and shoulder problems since the Saints drafted him out of Old Dominion and gave him the task of learning to play left guard after spending most of his college career at right tackle.

So their strength was tested by the Rams. Veteran backup Landon Young stepped in at left guard to relieve Saldiveri, although undrafted rookie Kyle Hergel was also an option. We’ll have to wait and see if this injury was as serious as it looked.

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This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints offensive lineman was forced off with an injury against the Rams