After an encouraging week of practice, the New Orleans Saints activated running back Travis Etienne off injured reserve, making their starting running back available for the first time since Week 3.

Etienne should provide a boost to a run game that was held below 60 yards in three of the five games he missed.

New Orleans signed him to a big deal this offseason to add some playmaking to the backfield after Etienne topped 1,000 yards rushing in three of his first four seasons. Despite just 30 carries, Etienne’s three rushes of 10-plus yards are just off the team lead.

The Saints didn’t have to make a roster move to bring Etienne back from injured reserve, as they never filled the spot created by trading Davon Godchaux to the Jacksonville Jaguars. But they had several other moves to make Saturday.

The team placed rookie defensive lineman Christen Miller on injured reserve after he suffered a knee injury during practice earlier this week.

It was the latest disappointment in a season full of them for Miller, the 42nd overall pick in this year’s draft who has dealt with various injuries throughout his time with the Saints. Miller has played in just four of eight games, playing less than a third of the defensive snaps when he has been active.

Miller will be eligible to return off injured reserve for the Saints’ Week 14 road game against the Carolina Panthers, but it is also possible this injury will end his season. NFL teams are allowed to bring eight players off injured reserve in the course of a regular season, and after activating Etienne, New Orleans has already brought back six players this season.

New Orleans signed practice squad offensive lineman Easton Kilty to the active roster to take Miller’s spot on the roster. The Saints needed the additional offensive line depth after right tackle Taliese Fuaga suffered a knee injury in practice this week that will sideline him Sunday.

The Saints also used the second of their three standard practice squad elevations on kicker Charlie Smyth.