Saints tackle Terron Armstead to miss multiple games

As reported by multiple sources on Wednesday morning, New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead could miss 3-4 games with a pectoral injury. Armstead suffered the injury near the end of the first half of the team's 51-14 win over Cincinnati last week.

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The 27-yr. old Armstead had been playing at an All-Pro level, shutting down some of the league's best pass rushers and leading an offensive line that has been dominating defenses. Injuries are nothing new to Armstead, who has yet to play a full 16 game schedule in his six year career, but is considered one of the better left tackles in the league. Some reports have suggested that Armstead may return for the Saints Nov. 29 game at Dallas, but at the moment he is at least expected to be back for the final stretch of the season. The Saints play at home against Philadelphia, then Atlanta, and on the road against Dallas and Tampa Bay over the next four weeks.

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Initially replacing Armstead at left tackle will be 34-yr. old Jermon Bushrod, who played well when stepping in last game. Bushrod, a twelve year veteran, was the starting left tackle on the Saints Super Bowl XLIV championship team. He will now be charged with protecting the blind side of quarterback Drew Brees against a Philadelphia defense that has 26 sacks this season. Left guard Andrus Peat has often moved over to left tackle when Armstead has missed time in the past, and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk could also be a possibility here if Bushrod struggles. For now though, Jermon Bushrod fills the "next man up" role for arguably the NFL's best offensive line, against an Eagles team who predicates defensive success on pressuring opposing backfields.