The Saints are finally back on the field Saturday, and even with a preseason Week 1 lineup stripped down by limited starters, there’s still plenty to watch when Jacksonville comes to town. Both teams are keeping the heavy hitters mostly in reserve with a joint practice set for Thursday, which means the game itself becomes more about the depth chart battles than the headline names.
The clearest place to start is up front, where Spencer Rattler will again be the center of attention. The third-year quarterback beat out the competition last preseason and already has a meaningful sample of game reps as a starter.
He went 1-7 in that role last season, but his experience and talent should matter here. The catch is that he’ll likely be working behind a backup offensive line, which is not exactly the ideal setup for a quarterback who has already shown some trouble when pressure closes in.
That challenge gets sharper with Dillon Radunz out after tearing his ACL during training camp.
Even with the injuries and the uncertainty along the line, there are still a few names worth tracking. Jeremiah Wright could see more work if his shoulder injury allows it, and Saints fans should get another look at Torricelli Simpkins III, who flashed last season. For a group that has struggled for depth in recent years, this is a useful first test against a Jaguars pass rush that is young and still finding its footing.
The same kind of evaluation applies at receiver, where New Orleans has spent recent seasons walking a tightrope with thin depth behind the top options. The Saints tried to address that in the 2026 NFL Draft by adding three receivers across six rounds, and two of them - fourth-round pick Bryce Lance and sixth-round pick Barrion Brown - should see the most snaps in this one. Brown has stood out in camp and now gets a real chance to push for offensive work instead of settling into the special teams role he was originally drafted for.
Jacksonville’s secondary brings a few interesting names of its own, including Tulane’s Caleb Ransaw and cornerback Jarrian Jones. If Rattler and the Saints passing game show any life, it may come from early chemistry with those young receivers.
On the other side, the Saints’ secondary is one of the biggest questions entering the season, and Saturday should offer a first look at where things stand. Kool-Aid McKinstry leads a group that is heavily weighted toward rookies, and even with Martin Emerson Jr. added, the latest depth chart still points to McKinstry and Quincy Riley as the boundary corners. Riley should get a healthy amount of run in this one, with Emerson likely involved too.
Jacksonville’s receiver room gives New Orleans a worthwhile test. Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Jakobi Meyers make up a strong trio, and while not all the starters are expected to play, at least one of them should be out there.
The Jaguars also have useful depth, with Travis Hunter still listed as a wideout and rookie receiver J0sh Cameron on the depth chart. Saturday should give a clearer picture of how Riley and Emerson are settling in, and it may also offer a glimpse of Jonas Sanker working in the slot.
In Other News...
Former Rams DT Keeps Finding His Way Back Into The NFL
Jonah Williams is back on the Saints practice squad, giving New Orleans another familiar defensive tackle to lean on as the season grinds forward. Kellen Moore announced the move, and it fits the pattern Williams has followed for much of his NFL career, bouncing between practice squads and futures deals while spending time with the Rams, Vikings, Lions and Cardinals.
For the Saints, the return is about depth and continuity on a defensive front that has already seen plenty of churn. Williams, 30, was a regular part of the mix in 2025, appearing in 15 games and producing 18 tackles with three sacks, so the organization knows what it is getting if hes called on again. What remains to be seen is whether this latest stay on the practice squad turns into another chance to contribute on game day. [Read more 🡒]
Saints No. 6 Suddenly Carries Far More Meaning This Season
When the Saints open the 2026 regular season against the Lions, the No. 6 on Tyler Shoughs jersey will carry a very different kind of weight than it has in most of franchise history. New Orleans has seen that number worn by a notable run of specialists over the years, from punters Tommy Barnhardt and Thomas Morstead to a group of kickers in 2021, and more recently by defensive players Marcus Maye and Willie Gay. Now it belongs to the quarterback the Saints drafted in 2025, and for the first time in team history, No. 6 is attached to the position that matters most.
Shough enters his second season as the unquestioned starter, which is part of what gives the number added meaning this fall. The Saints have made it clear he is viewed as the quarterback of the future, and even a jersey detail can take on a little extra significance when it belongs to the player expected to steer the next chapter. For a franchise that has cycled through plenty of familiar No. 6s, this is a rare case where the number points straight at the present and what the organization hopes comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Jonas Sanker Faces A Defining Saints Test Right Away
Jonas Sanker is walking into his NFL introduction with little room for easing in. After moving from safety to the STAR position in the Saints defense, he is set to be asked to do a little of everything right away, from handling coverage duties to helping against the run. For a rookie, that kind of role can come with a steep learning curve, but it also puts him in the middle of the action from the start.
The season opener against Detroit only sharpens the spotlight, with Amon-Ra St. Brown looming as the kind of slot presence that can expose hesitation and reward discipline. For New Orleans, Sanker's assignment is more than just one matchup on the schedule - it is an early measure of how quickly he can settle into a demanding job and begin carving out his place in the league. [Read more 🡒]