As the New Orleans Saints head into the preseason opener, the team feels confident enough in its roster that we likely won't see a single starter on the field.
That's good news for what we can hope to see in Week 1, but also some tough news for the viewer who might be tuning in for an early look at guys like Tyler Shough, Chris Olave, Jordyn Tyson, Travis Etienne ... the list goes on. None of those players will be in uniform. But what that means is an extended run for the second-string and third-string players who need it most, and we should still expect some explosive offense (more on that below)
THE GAME, PRE-WEEK 1 | Jaguars (0-0) fat Saints (0-0)
- WHEN: 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 15
- Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.
- TV: FOX
- LISTEN: WWL AM-870; FM-105.3 & the Audacy app
- PREGAME: First Take with Steve Geller & Jeff Nowak, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Countdown to Kickoff with Steve Geller & Bobby Hebert, 1 to 3 p.m.
With all that in mind, here are the top three things I'm watching when the Saints face off with the Jaguars in their preseason opener.
Brought to you by TRANESOUTH: It's hard to stop a Tranewww.audacy.comBIG-PLAY BATTERY
We might not be seeing the starters on offense, but we should still be treated to big plays. One thing that's been clear about Spencer Rattler in Year 3 is that without the added pressure of a QB battle, he's much more prone to being aggressive and opening things up. He said himself on Friday that he's playing more "free," and we've definitely seen that throughout camp.
It hasn't always been the right decision. We've seen him attempt a few dangerous throws across the field, one that went for a catch and another for an interception, that coaches would probably advise against. But the common theme is that he's been willing to give his receivers opportunities downfield. What makes that notable is the top two WRs I expect him to be showcases with, Barion Brown and Bryce Lance, also happen to be elite downfield options.
Chris Olave has already likened Brown to former Saints speedster Rashid Shaheed, and it's a fair comparison. They're about the same size, have elite return skillsets and seem to have a nose for the football. Meanwhile Bryce Lance has the type of deep ball skillset you just can't teach. He's 6-3 with 4.3 speed and excels at catching the ball on the run. Both players have a lot of refinement left to happen in their games, but the game-breaking ability is evident and intoxicating.
On a day that we don't necessarily get a preview of what the 2026 offense will look like, we could still be getting a glimpse of the future at the wideout position. And perhaps that future might have to arrive earlier than expected, with Jordyn Tyson's outlook unclear following a hamstring injury suffered in Thursday's practice.
WHO'S READY ON DEFENSE?
While it might not help the preseason TV ratings, it's a good sign for the Saints roster that they can go into a game like this and not feel like it's necessary for a starting role competition. The expectation is that everyone who takes the field on defense will be competing for a depth role and/or a roster spot. That means a LONG leash for players who need the reps.
The most intriguing players, in my opinion:
- DT Christen Miller
- LB Danny Stutsman
- LB Jaylan Ford
- CB/Star Jayden Price
Miller is an obvious choice. He's a bit buried on the depth chart, but as of now he looks to be the backup nose tackle. Davon Godchaux is currently dealing with an ankle injury, so it'd be great to see him go out there and flash a few times. He's been lost in the shuffle to this point in camp, but preseason is where we'd typically find out if a guy is ready to contribute, or if we should be planning for a redshirt year.
Stutsman and Ford are both returning players in Brandon Staley's scheme, and Ford said it's "night and day" in terms of understanding compared to this time last year. Everyone is comfortable, playing fast and assignment sound, and we've seen a really strong showing from that side of the ball to this point in camp. There's no question that it's Kaden Elliss and Pete Werner entrenched as starters, but what happens if one or both misses time? I'd sure like this team to feel comfortable elevating one or both of these players. A strong showing in the preseason would go a long way. Both guys are potentially 100-tackle players if they got the run, and I love the energy they bring. Kellen Moore would call it "juice."
The final guy is Price, a player that many Saints fans might not be familiar with -- but I expect they will be after watching this game. He's one of the biggest surprises of camp, in my opinion, taking on the majority of the backup star reps and showing very well. He's a bit undersized, but he's physical and always seems to be in the right spot. Jonas Sanker is the unquestioned starter at that position, so much like Stutsman and Ford, it's on Price to show well enough in the preseason to convince the coaching staff that if the starter missed time, he's the guy that should be turned to. No veteran help required. At this point I think he's also the only player here still on the fringe of the roster. Big, big day for the Kansas kid.
KICKERS!!!!
I know, if I'm trying to sell you on kickers this is probably a weak sales pitch. But it's the only true position battle on this roster and, in my opinion, it's still very much neck and neck. Both Charlie Smyth and Tanner Brown got off to sketchy starts but have seemed to dial things in over the past week.
Here are the camp stats to this point:
- Tanner Brown: 33-38, 86.8% (misses: PAT, 39, 45, 51, 54; long of 56; 6-8 from 50-plus)
- Charlie Smyth: 33-41, 80.4% (misses: 39, 44, 45, 47, 50, 51, 54, 56; long of 54; 6-10 from 50-plus)
The percentages could definitely be better, but over their last two kicking sessions Brown is 12-13 (92.3%), while Smyth is 11-12 (91.6%). Both misses in that span were from outside of 50 yards.
We'll need to see that consistency continue, but it's entirely possible this whole thing comes down to who performs better in the game atmosphere. Head coach Kellen Moore said the plan is to rotate the kickers throughout games in the way that makes the most sense. The primary goal is to make things as even as possible in terms of attempts and situations. I think the idea would be to avoid a scenario where one guy ends up with all PATs and the other guy with all long field goals, etc. etc.
At this point I'm not necessarily pulling for either guy, rather I'm pulling for the Saints to have an option they're confident in going into the season. Best-case scenario is the decision is difficult because they're both making they kicks. Worst-case scenario is you don't think either guy has what it takes. Let's see what happens over the next few weeks.
LAGNIAPPE
It's unclear exactly what the split will be at the quarterback position, but Rattler is expected to get a bulk of the reps. My guess would be he pulls the first half action with Zach Wilson taking over in the third quarter. Moore also said the hope is to get Hunter Dekkers some reps, which would be notable. He's been with the Saints for the past two offseasons and I am still yet to see him throw a ball in any regular team drill setting. He's a lefty with an intriguing skillset. Could be fun. ... The WR depth question is particularly intriguing these days. When Ja'Lynn Polk retired I thought it might prompt the Saints to just keep five WRs and retain depth elsewhere. But if there's concern about Tyson's injury lingering into the regular season, that might not be an option. If the Saints are forced to keep a 6th WR, who would it be? My guess right now would be Kevin Austin Jr., but guys like Bub Means, Ronnie Bell and Trey Palmer could force themselves into that conversation with strong showings in the preseason game. If I had to rank them in terms of their chances, it'd be in the order I just listed them. ... The Saints went into this camp with, in my opinion, a firm idea of who the top four RBs were. The only problem is that the 3/4 guys on that list haven't been able to practice for a large chunk of camp. That's Kendre Miller (back) and Devin Neal (hamstring). What that's allowed for is A TON of reps for guys like Audric Estime and Ty Chandler, and both have looked really solid. They're very different backs. Estime is built like a truck and will run through you, Chandler has elite speed and can bend the corner with the best of them. Both have an opportunity to force difficult conversations with strong preseason showings. Estime feels like a better fit for the current backfield build, because I'd argue they don't really have a bruiser in Alvin Kamara or Travis Etienne. Either way, it's a clear opportunity, let's see what they do with it. ... As of now the backup center would be Torricelli Simpkins III, but that doesn't mean the Saints are satisfied with him in that role. Last year they went out and traded for Luke Fortner at the end of camp. Simpkins' job is to play well enough that they don't feel compelled to do that again.
