The string of difficult injury news continues for the New Orleans Saints, with two more players officially done for the year.
The team announced on Tuesday that both TE Moliki Matavao and RB Ty Chandler have been placed on injured reserve. Players that go to IR during the preseason are not eligible to return, meaning their seasons are over.
Brought to you by TRANESOUTH: It's hard to stop a Tranewww.audacy.comChandler is a veteran running back who had been angling for a roster spot, though it would have been an uphill climb in a crowded running back room. He opened the preseason with a bang, returning the opening kickoff 86 yards against the Jaguars, but the lasting image will likely be a goal line fumble against the Rams last Saturday. The Saints have since swung a trade for veteran RB Zamir White, who made his practice debut on Tuesday, wearing No. 33.
Matavao had shown steady progression in Year 2 after the Saints drafted him in the 7th round a year ago. He had been having his most productive game as a pro before taking a hit to the knee as he hauled in a catch from Zach Wilson along the sideline. The Saints would've had a difficult decision to make at tight end when cuts arrived. The injury could mean a potential opening for a depth spot for players like Zaire Mitchell-Paden and Cody Hardy. The top three on the depth chart at that position are fairly entrenched with veterans Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant and rookie Oscar Delp, a third-round pick in this year's draft.
The IR designations mean the Saints have two unused roster spots, though they might opt to just leave them open with cutdown day looming on Sunday.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
The list of players absence from Tuesday's practice was long again, but the greatest attention will go to Chris Olave, who left with a trainer shortly before the day wrapped up. Kellen Moore said the Saints star WR landed on his back and appeared to have the wind knocked out of him. The situation sounds minor, but his status will be one to monitor when the Saints take the field Wednesday evening at Tulane's Yulman Stadium for the final open practice of training camp.
Here's the list of players, excluding those sent to IR, who did not practice at all on Tuesday:
- WR Jordyn Tyson (hamstring)
- WR Trey Palmer
- WR Mason Tipton (PUP)
- RB Devin Neal (hamstring)
- CB Quincy Riley (groin)
- DB Lorenzo Styles (calf)
- CB Dalys Beanum
- RB Alvin Kamara (knee)
- RG Cesar Ruiz (ankle)
- LB Chris Rumph (ankle)
- G/C Torricelli Simpkins III (concussion)
- OL Barry Wesley
- TE Oscar Delp (hamstring)
- DE Cam Jordan (hamstring)
- DT John Ridgeway
Absences for players down the roster become more problematic this week, as it marks the final few days for auditions prior to roster cuts on Sunday. We did see three players return in Brien Taylor (stinger), Bub Means (hamstring) and Christen Miller (shoulder), though they were held out of team drills.
With Riley's absence we've continued to see first-team reps for Martin Emerson Jr. He appears to have moved clearly ahead of Isaac Yiadom on the depth chart. Riley's return timeline remains unclear. Beanum had been the player to move up a line of the depth chart due to Riley's absence. With him down, we've continued to see rookie TJ Hall taking over reps with the 2s.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE
You could look at Tuesday's practice in a few ways. It was remarkably efficient for all three QBs, but it was also low-yield. Here's the passing line for all three:
- Tyler Shough: 14-of-17 (82.4%)
- Spencer Rattler: 7-of-10 (70%)
- Zach Wilson: 4-of-6 (66.7%)
So, across the board the Saints QBs were a combined 75.8% ... not too shabby. But it's important to note that only a handful of those passes were more than 10 yards downfield. It appeared the Saints were working on option route concepts, and they were effective. There was a lot of action in short areas of the field targeting Devaughn Vele, Noah Fant and Juwan Johnson, which will certainly be the bread and butter of this offense.
We did see Shough attack deep twice, both times targeting Olave. The first was a nice leaping grab over Kool-Aid McKinstry that would've gone for a gain of more than 30 yards. The second, Shough's final throw of practice, was flagged for DPI in the end zone against rookie TJ Hall.
The Saints offense has definitely upped its efficiency, so I'll view that as a positive. We also saw a lot of work for Barion Brown with the 2s. At one point he was targeted on three straight plays.
MIX IT UP
The other notable thing for the offense was the mixing and matching. The Saints did a call-it session for the final team period. They kept traditional downs, though there was no time or situation on the scoreboard. They opted to set up the 1s on offense against the 2s on defense, and vice versa. It's an opportunity for depth players to get some high-pressure reps against the top end of the roster, while in theory creating a favorable matchup on the other side. That played out how you'd hope.
The first set saw the Rattler-led 2s convert on third down (Brown), but then bog down on 3rd and 2 with an incompletion targeting Bryce Lance. It looked like the rookie got his hands to the ball, but it was a tough play against McKinstry in coverage.
The offensive 1s, meanwhile, led an extended drive with first down conversions to Juwan Johnson and Devaughn Vele, followed by a 3rd and 1 conversion by Travis Etienne. The Saints opted to end that series after the DPI on Hall in the end zone, which would've set up first and goal at the 1.
KICKER or KICKER or KICKER
The Saints have three kickers on the roster, the most recent addition being veteran Daniel Carlson. At this stage it does appear that they'll be keeping all three through Friday's preseason finale. The expectation is that we'll see all three kick during Wednesday's practice at Tulane.
It's hard not to see Carlson as having the inside track if things go well in that audition, but it has to go well. Right now he has the mystery on his side, while Tanner Brown and Charlie Smyth have struggled. Still, there's very little runway for him to make up for a sketchy looking day. Let's see what happens.
