The New Orleans Saints defense took a hit in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings, with starting middle linebacker Kiko Alonso exiting the wild-card round game with a knee injury. Alonso had missed several regular season games with a quadriceps muscle issue, so this is a different problem for him to manage. The Saints announced that he is questionable to return.
Acquired in a preseason trade with the Miami Dolphins, Alonso’s playing-time has increased as the year wore on and he became a staple of the defense by the time they really got rolling in November. His ability to run well both vertically and laterally makes him a valuable asset in pass coverage.