Eight full days of Saints training camp, half of which have been in full pads, and there are a lot of names that are worse for wear.
There might have been an idea that getting out of New Orleans and the south Louisiana heat would've led to more optimal results, but from a soft-tissue injury front the southern California conditions might just be working against them, as Deuce McAllister explained at Friday's practice.
"Wide receivers have been hit the hardest with those injuries and I can’t say it’s lack of conditioning," McAllister said. "I think it’s the elements will get you a little bit. You talk about cool weather, not as warm, maybe I’m not hydrating as much, maybe I’m not stretching as much and, you know, some of those guys are probably getting a little bit more running than they’ve normally done in a short amount of time but hopefully it’s not long term."
The rash of injuries began with RB Kendre Miller on the opening set of drills, but it seems like at least one player a day has gone down with something or other. It's also hit some of the top names on the roster in CB Marshon Lattimore (hip), LB Demario Davis (hamstring) and DT Bryan Bresee (foot), though Bresee made his return on Saturday in a limited capacity.
The Saints were already down three receivers before speedster Jermaine Jackson walked off gingerly late in Friday's action. Cedrick Wilson (groin), Equanimeous St. Brown (hamstring) and Bub Means (shin) had already been missing from practice for multiple days.
"The dog days of camp, that’s really where you are," McAllister continued. "Maybe you don’t see as many to a certain position like the receivers, but it happens.”
Related
MORE FROM DEUCE
On Anfernee Orji, Isaiah Foskey continuing to flash at practice
“I think when you look at Anfernee Orji, one of the things that you catch ... he’s all over the field and that's really what you get now. He might not get the normal reps if Demario is healthy and maybe some of the other guys are healthy, but now for him with some of those guys down, he’s able to play the Sam, he’s able to play the Mike, play the Will, so he can move all over the field and not as lost, in a sense, from a football standpoint and he can make plays and so, you know, he had two where he was the point of attack and he was able to beat the block and be able to make the play for a tackle for loss in the backfield on the backs.
"Foskey, he’s had a really, really good camp, probably could do a little bit more, but I mean, in the run game, pass rushing, he’s been able to make his number flash where you look back and you look, oh, that’s Foskey, because almost a couple times even though he lines up at defensive end he may drop a little bit or he chases it down from the backside and you have to look and say, oh, that’s Foskey. He’s been flashing a little bit for them.”
Related
On referees at Saints camp action, which began with Friday's practice
“I think for the players it’s letting them know what they can and can’t get away with. You’ll always have a conversation with the official after the play and hey look, you know, I wouldn’t call that in a game or, you know, was that legal, yea, if you do it this way I’m not gonna call it, so just getting that rapport with the officials and the understanding. I mean, each crew is gonna be a little bit different and guys, when they go out and warm up, if I can talk to the official then and you get a scouting report on the officials, how they call games, what they’re looking for, different things of that nature, so I can adjust before the play happens. If you don’t adjust then you’re kind of cheating yourself, because you know what they’re looking for. Yes, a foul is a foul, but at the same time if there’s certain things they’re looking for, don’t go and do it.”