2 more preseason games remain before the Saints get into regular season mode. The now 85-man roster will have to be trimmed down another 5 players in one week, just hours after Monday night football against the Jaguars.
Absent, coming off a day off were:
- K, Wil Lutz
- WR Tommylee Lewis
- RB Dwayne Washington
- FB Alex Armah
- G Mike Brown
- OT Ryan Ramczyk
- OT Ethan Greenidge
- DE Payton Turner
- LB Pete Werner
- CB Adonis Alexander
- CB KeiVarae Russell
Coach Sean Payton told us that Russell has been put on the COVID-19 reserve list. It means he’ll have to remain away from the team for at least 10 days, and is someone who hasn’t been practicing due to injury.
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We did see three guys return to the field. Wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith is a sight for sore eyes after he left a workout on August 3rd, with an apparent leg injury. While present, Smith did not take part in any contact drills. Safeties Marcus Williams and P.J. Williams also returned to practice after missing some sessions last week.
QB WATCH
Now that Taysom had a start in Baltimore, it will be Jameis’ turn to lead the first wave Monday Night for the 2nd preseason match-up.
Winston ran with the one’s Tuesday and finished 11of 21 passing, unable to get into any kind of flow because of consistent defensive pressure.
There was some dispute over the final series in the two-minute drill. Winston ran around to buy time with the walls closing in and ended up finding Marquez Callaway in the back corner of the endzone for a touchdown.
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Corner Marshon Lattimore was in coverage and was quick to point-out that the QB would have been sacked. It sure did appear that a defender was behind Winston before the throw went off, signaling he would have been taken down.
Hill would go 13-of-21 with the second wave. He hooked up with rookie Kawaan Baker over the middle to keep a drive alive running the two-minute drill, but also had an awful overthrow to the WR. That drive ended in field goal range with the 2nd series not finishing so well. The offense went 4-and-out with Hill taking two sacks.
HIT THE KWON
Linebacker Kwon Alexander took part in full-contact drills for the first time and had the defense chanting and cheering after he had a pass break-up. This Saints defense swag-factor gets bumped up another notch when he’s around, which is interesting since he really hasn’t been a part of the team long. The former LSU Tiger meshed instantly after getting traded to New Orleans last year and has something about him that is able to inspire his teammates.