Saints head coach Dennis Allen provided an update on starting quarterback Jameis Winston’s foot injury following Tuesday’s practice.
“Jameis sprained his foot yesterday,” Allen said. “He’s really day-to-day. I don’t think it’ll be that big of a challenge, but we’re going to make sure we get him back healthy before we put him back out there.”
Allen also added that the team doesn’t feel like the sprain is anything significant. Backup quarterback Andy Dalton worked with the first-team unit in Winston’s absence.
Dalton connected with wide receiver Michael Thomas multiple times, as the 2019 NFL Offensive Player of the Year continued to impress in his return to action at training camp. Dalton hit Thomas for a pair of receptions in the middle of the field in both the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.
Second-year cornerback Bryce Thompson went down with a leg injury during 1-on-1 drills. He got carted
off the field, and the severity of the injury is unknown.
Penalty flags flying
In the 1-on-1 and 11-on-11 reps, there was an abundance of flags thrown from the officials assigned to the practice. The Saints offense was tagged for a pair penalties during the two-minute drill. A false start wiped out a massive completion in the middle of the field from Dalton to wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith, and another false start pushed them back again. However, a penalty on cornerback Paulson Adebo
sparked the offense to march down the field and score on a touchdown drive.
Coach Allen explained why having referees at the practices is beneficial to the team overall.
Interior DL showing up
The rushing attack was stifled for most of the 11-on-11 reps. Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach stood out by stuffing multiple runs. In the two-minute drill, rookie defensive tackle Jordan Jackson shined with his interior pass rush. He likely would have come away with two sacks on quarterback Ian Book.
Two-minute drill wrap up
Following Adebo’s penalty, Dalton operated the offense well in the two-minute drill. Running back Tony Jones Jr. caught a pass, and a deep ball from Dalton to tight end Adam Trautman brought the offense into the red-zone. Jones Jr. reeled in his second catch of the drive on a well-timed screen play, and wide receiver Kirk Merritt snagged the touchdown just past the goal line to complete the drill. From losing ten yards due to two flags in three plays to scoring a touchdown, it was quite the turnaround from the
Saints’ offense.
Look out for…
Malcolm Roach. The Saints ran the ball at their big defensive tackle, and he was ready for the task on multiple occasions with a pair of big stops. Adam Trautman brought in one of the biggest receptions of the practice with his 25-yard catch over the middle in the two-minute drill. Coach Allen called the third- year tight end a “well-rounded player” in the blocking and passing game.
