Saints RB Alvin Kamara reports for training camp after walking out over contract dispute (2024)

IRVINE, Calif. — Is Alvin Kamara here just so he won’t get fined?

The New Orleans Saints running back reported for training camp Tuesday when the veterans were required to show up in Southern California for a nearly monthlong camp out west, more than a month after he skipped the team’s final mandatory minicamp practice because of a contract dispute.

Kamara’s attendance was a looming question, given sources said he was seeking an extension amid what’s effectively the last year of his current deal. Although Kamara is under contract until 2025, he holds a $29 million cap hit next season that the Saints are unlikely to keep on their books. He has no guaranteed money left on the deal beyond this season.

If Kamara had decided to skip out for a portion of training camp — a measure he took in 2020 when he last sought a new deal — the running back would have been subjected to fines of $50,000 per day, the mandatory penalty under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.

Coach Dennis Allen said Kamarapassedthe Saints’ conditioning test Tuesday. The first training camp practice is Wednesday.

It remains to be seen, though, whether Kamara will be a full participant. Inwhat’sbecome a trend around the league in recent years, players such as Deebo Samuel of the 49ers and Derwin James of the Chargers have opted to “hold in” rather than hold out when seeking a new contract by refusing to fullyparticipateuntil the dispute is settled.

On Instagram, Kamara posted a picture of him standing next to former running back Marshawn Lynch, who once famously told reporters that he was “here so I won’t get fined.”

The Saints have not reworked Kamara’s contract, and general manager Mickey Loomis declined to get into details about the status of their negotiations when he met with reporters after Allen on Tuesday. New Orleans also opted to not touch the deal when it restructured a series of contracts to get salary-cap compliant earlier this offseason.

If the deal does not get reworked, New Orleans easily could move on from Kamara after the season. Releasing the running back would leave $10 million on the books in dead money but free up nearly $19 million in cap space.

“I appreciate that he’s here,” Loomis said. “I think one thing that we have to understand is that — I'm going to be conservative here —I'd say 50% of our organization — players, coaches, administrators, scouts — feel like they’re underpaid, right? And (they) believe they deserve and want more money. How each of us respond to that and act accordingly, it’s just a personal issue. I appreciate that he’s here in great shape like he always is.”

One of the reasons that New Orleans may be content to let Kamara’s contract situation play out is because of his age. He turns 29 on Thursday, an age at which running backs generally start to decline.

His production also has slipped in each of the last three seasons. Kamara, who played 13 of 17 games last season, rushed for a career-low 694 yards on 180 carries — good for only 3.9 yards per attempt, the second-worst mark of his career. His receiving yards also were down as he finished with only 466 yards on 75 catches, equaling a career-worst 6.2 yards per reception.

Still, the Saints have been bullish this offseason that Kamara can return to form. The team hired new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who deploys a scheme that generallyhasbenefited running backs.

“I’m excited to see what it looks like,” Allen said of Kamara’s fit in the offense.

In addition to Kamara, Allen seemed pleased by the Saints’ attendance ahead of camp. He said the only players who won’t practice when camp begins are defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon (Achilles), tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) and linebacker Nephi Sewell (ACL). Those players were placed on the physically unable to perform list last week, in addition to defensive end Chase Young (neck). Wide receiver Chris Olave alsolanded on the non-football-injury list last week with a back injury. Allen said he anticipatesOlave and Young will be limited participants when camp opens.