Williams, who was already ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Packers due to a hamstring injury, was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Williams reportedly "tweaked" his hamstring in Monday's win over the Panthers and failed to practice all week, but the prevailing sentiment was that the veteran would be in store for just a one-game absence. However, after moving to injured reserve, Williams will now be sidelined for at least four games, with the Saints' Oct. 19 contest versus Jacksonville representing his earliest return date. By that point, Alvin Kamara will be far past his three-game suspension to begin the season, and rookie Kendre Miller (hamstring) -- who is making his NFL debut Sunday -- could make a case to push Williams for work on rushing downs. With Kamara serving the final game of his suspension Sunday, expect Tony Jones, Miller and quarterback Taysom Hill to serve as the Saints' main options on the ground.