Saints first-round rookie, OT Kelvin Banks Jr., is already taking repetitions at left tackle, which pushes last year’s first-round pick and starting left tackle, Taliese Fuaga over the the right tackle position. Penning, who manned the right tackle spot last year, will now evidently kick inside to left guard. Penning has failed to developed into a reliable pass protector through three NFL seasons but respectably earned a 70.1 PFF run-blocking grade last season. The Saints’ offensive line is rounding into form as an above-average unit.

He'll have a three-week window to get ready, but he was already spotted by Saints reporters at practice on Thursday. It's probably too much to ask to get him ready for Week 10, but Week 11 could be plausible. James Hurst has actually been a solid replacement for Penning and might move inside to guard whenever Penning returns, as Andrus Peat is both hurt and has struggled when he's actually played. 

Penning suffered his injury in the Saints preseason finale and was placed on IR soon after. Set to miss a minimum of four games, a return in November would put Penning closer to eight to 10 games missed. Expected to earn a starting job in camp, the loss of Penning is a big one for the Saints. While the news of an impending return is encouraging, we're still a long way off from knowing when he could actually return to action.

Penning will miss a minimum of four games, but it's likely to be a much longer stay on I.R. for the 19th overall pick. He suffered a torn ligament in his foot in the preseason finale. The Saints will start LT James Hurst and RT Ryan Ramczyk on their line.