Things looked different at the first New Orleans Saints practice since firing Dennis Allen, even if the vast majority of faces had not changed.
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi paced around the field watching each position group, with all of those groups relocated from their traditional locations. The portion of practice open to the media also consisted of high energy drill work, whereas previously a good chunk of that time was devoted to stretching. Pass rush specialist Bryan Young was also leading defensive line drills with DL coach Todd Grantham not seen during that period.
Rizzi said the plan is to have Young lead the defensive line the rest of the way, with Granthan transitioning into a senior advisor role to assist defensive coordinator Joe Woods.
It all coalesces into what Rizzi promised in his opening press conference: Change, some minor and some more significant. The Saints also reorganized player lockers at the facility to group players by position, something that hasn't been the case for several years.
Anyways, back to the traditional injury report format. There were only four absences on the day, including WR Cedrick Wilson, who suffered a shoulder injury but finished out the game against the Panthers. G/C Lucas Patrick (calf) was also missing after suffering a calf injury and leaving the game in the third quarter. In all there were 13 names listed, with three still working back from IR in S Will Harris, LB Nephi Sewell and G Shane Lemieux.
Here's how the initial injury report broke down on Wednesday:
LP = limited participation; FP = full participation; DNP = did not participate
- WR Cedrick Wilson (shoulder): DNP
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring): DNP
- WR Chris Olave (concussion): DNP
- G/C Lucas Patrick (calf): DNP
- S J.T. Gray (back): LP
- CB Rico Payton (back): LP
- RB Jamaal Williams (groin): LP
- DT John Ridgeway (oblique): LP
- S Will Harris (hamstring): LP
- QB Derek Carr (illness): FP
- RB Alvin Kamara (hand): FP
- G Shane Lemieux (knee): FP
- LB Nephi Sewell (knee): FP
The Saints did have several new faces out there, including a familiar one in DE Trajan Jeffcoat, who was signed to the practice squad. The Saints also signed DT Ryder Anderson and RB Xazavian Valladay to the practice squad. The team also opened the 21-day practice window for S Will Harris, who has been on injured reserve since suffering a hamstring injury during the Week 5 loss to the Chiefs.
There was some more good news with quarterback Derek Carr and RB Alvin Kamara practicing in full for the first time since their respective injuries. Carr described the practice as high energy and said it was the most plays he'd run in a single practice throughout his 11-year NFL career.
Here's how things broke down for the Falcons:
- ILB JD Bertrand (concussion): DNP
- OLB Matthew Judon (illness): DNP
- DL Grady Jarrett (achilles): LP
- G Chris Lindstrom (knee): LP
- WR Drake London (hip): LP
- TE Kyle Pitts (hamstring): LP
- DL James Smith-Williams (tibia): LP
- ILB Troy Andrersen (knee): FP
- C Drew Dalman (ankle): FP
The Saints (2-7) host the Falcons (6-3) at the Caesars Superdome in Week 10 for a noon kickoff. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.
