The New Orleans Saints open their preseason Saturday at the Caesars Superdome against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the first look at this year’s team comes with a few big caveats. Kellen Moore has already said he’ll rest his starters in the exhibition, so this one is less about the top of the roster and more about the players fighting to stick around when the cuts start coming.
That makes the afternoon an important stage for rookies, veterans trying to hold onto jobs, and anyone looking to pop in a crowded depth chart. The Saints and Jaguars also brought some extra juice into the week after turning up the intensity during Thursday’s joint practice, which at least gives this game a little edge even if the star power is limited.
Kickoff is set for Saturday, Aug. 15 at 3 p.m. CT in New Orleans. The game will air locally on FOX and will stream on FUBO with a free trial.
The quarterback situation is also worth watching. Tyler Shough is out at his coach’s direction, just like Trevor Lawrence on the Jacksonville side, so Spencer Rattler will start under center when New Orleans gets the ball first.
Rattler has had a strong summer as the QB2 and has a chance to make a statement with teams around the league still looking for quarterback help. Zach Wilson and Hunter Dekkers are expected to follow him as the game moves along.
New Orleans is also dealing with a list of injuries that could shape how much action certain players see. The biggest name on that list is wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, the Saints’ first-round pick out of Arizona State.
Tyson has dealt with hamstring trouble before, missing part of his final season with the Sun Devils, the NFL Scouting Combine, ASU’s pro day and the Saints’ offseason program. He had been fully participating in each of the team’s first twelve practice sessions before an unlucky fall put his Week 1 status in doubt.
Other Saints managing injuries include running backs Kendre Miller, with a back issue, and Devin Neal, who is dealing with a hamstring injury; defensive linemen Cameron Jordan, hamstring, Davon Godchaux, ankle, and John Ridgeway III, back; linebacker Chris Rumph II, ankle; safety Terrell Burgess, unspecified; and cornerback Rejzohn Wright, hip.
For those tracking the preseason slate, this is the first of three tune-up games for New Orleans. The Saints host Jacksonville on Aug. 15, then travel to the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 22 and the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 28.
In Other News...
Jaguars Fans Are Finally Getting A Break At EverBank Stadium
The Jaguars are making a notable change to the game-day experience at EverBank Stadium, rolling out a new value menu for the 2026 season that puts popular concession items at $4.99 in select areas. The plan is part of a broader effort to reshape the food and drink setup inside the building, with the team also leaning into local offerings while aiming to keep prices more in line with the market.
Club ticket holders will get an extra perk as well, with free packaged snacks that will vary from game to game. For a fan base that has long had reasons to scrutinize what a trip to the stadium costs beyond the ticket itself, the move is another sign the Jaguars are trying to make the overall experience easier to live with, even as the details of the full concession overhaul continue to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Are Getting Real AFC Buzz And Fans Will Have Opinions
The Jaguars are getting a little more shine around the league, and Liam Coen seems perfectly happy to keep feeding off the skepticism. The first-year coach has said the teams perceived lack of respect around the NFL can work as motivation, and theres some outside validation now in the form of NFL.coms Nick Shook slotting Jacksonville No. 7 in his latest power rankings after praising the offenses growth and the stability of the coaching staff.
For a franchise that has spent plenty of time trying to prove it belongs in the AFC conversation, that kind of attention matters, even in July. Jacksonville has kept its staff intact and sounds confident about the roster heading toward 2026, but the bigger question is how much of this early buzz turns into something real once the season starts and the Jaguars have to answer it on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Offense Gets An Early Test Against A Saints Strength
The Jaguars are set to open their 2026 preseason against a Saints group that still looks built to make life difficult up front, which gives Jacksonville an early chance to see how its offense holds up against one of New Orleans' clearest strengths. The Saints' front seven, with Chase Young, Carl Granderson and Cam Jordan leading the way, has the kind of pass-rush and edge presence that can stress protections quickly, even in a preseason setting.
For Jacksonville, that makes this more than just a first exhibition tune-up. It is a useful opening test for an offense trying to settle in while the other sideline sorts through its own roster business, from the receiver battles involving Bub Means and Brock Rechsteiner to the kicking competition between Charlye Smith and Tanner Brown. If the Jaguars can handle the Saints' pressure early, it would say something about how ready they are to build on the rest of the summer. [Read more 🡒]