The first day of Saints training camp had the feel of a clean reset - quick, sharp, and mostly uneventful. Then the news on Bryan Bresee hit, and it changed the tone fast.
Bresee could potentially be lost for the season with a possible ACL injury, a brutal turn for a player who was heading into a pivotal year after the Saints picked up his fifth-year option this offseason. It’s a major hit to a defense that expected him to be part of the rotation, but the Saints do have bodies available at the position. Nathan Shepherd, Davon Godchaux, John Ridgeway, Vernon Broughton, Kristen Miller, Myles Cole and Khristian Boyd could all be in line for more snaps, and it would not be a surprise if the Saints start looking around for outside help as the season gets closer.
On the field, first-round pick Jordyn Tyson was one of the day’s biggest positives. The Saints knew he would practice Wednesday, but the bigger question was how much he’d actually do.
The answer: plenty. Tyson worked with the first team in both team drills and 7-on-7, which was the most extensive look he’s gotten since being drafted.
He finished with one catch on two targets, but the reception stood out more than the box score. It looked like a simple short hook from Tyler Shough, yet Tyson showed he could catch, turn, and accelerate quickly after a defender brushed the back of his jersey.
The Saints had been careful with him this offseason, and now the focus shifts to getting him as many reps with Shough as possible. Wednesday was a strong first step.
Chris Olave was also on hand, but only for part of the work. He started with individual drills and then shut it down before team periods and 7-on-7, part of a hold-in while his contract situation gets resolved.
That’s a familiar business-side standoff in the league, and this one doesn’t appear to be turning ugly. Even so, Olave’s presence at practice and in meetings still matters.
Another wrinkle came at running back, where Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne split first-team reps. That was a little unexpected, especially after Kamara’s offseason was settled with an adjusted contract that brought him back for his tenth season in New Orleans.
Still, the split showed the Saints are treating Kamara’s role seriously even with Etienne in the mix. Etienne is still expected to be the top back, but Wednesday had the two working side by side.
There was plenty else worth noting around the roster. Kool-Aid McKinstry kept building buzz, with Justin Reid and Cam Jordan both bringing him up unprompted when asked about the defense. McKinstry had two PBUs and doesn’t seem shy about carrying the CB1 label.
Isaac Yiadom made one of the day’s better defensive plays in 7-on-7, wrestling a pass away from the receiver in the flat on a throw from Spencer Rattler. Some may have scored it as an interception, but it looked more like a PBU since the receiver initially had possession.
The backup quarterback battle tilted toward Rattler on Wednesday, though both he and Zach Wilson put the ball on the ground. Rattler lost a shotgun snap, while Wilson fumbled on an exchange with a running back.
Tyler Shough had his best stretch in the second team period, going 4-for-4, and his sharpest throw came on a play-action pass to DeVaughn Vele on a shallow cross. Even so, the offense as a whole had a fairly quiet day.
Elsewhere, kicker Charlie Smyth was perfect on five field goal tries, and Jackson Sirmon forced a fumble on a strong Audric Estime run.
The Saints are back at it Thursday for practice No. 2, their first session in front of fans.
In Other News...
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The Hall of Fame weekend figures to feel like a Saints reunion, with several former teammates and staff expected to attend the festivities alongside Gayle Benson and Mickey Loomis. Paytons presence adds another layer to the occasion, since his connection to Brees runs far beyond the sideline and into the legacy both men built together, making this honor as much about their shared history as it is about one players place in football immortality. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Camp Already Took A Brutal Turn Fans Know Too Well
The Saints first public practice of training camp brought the usual buzz of a fresh start, but it also underscored how quickly the tone can shift in New Orleans. Tyler Shough is in line to run the offense as the team opens camp with a new quarterback setup, while the roster around him is already changing, from ongoing contract discussions with Chris Olave to the absence of longtime linebacker Demario Davis after his departure in free agency.
Cam Jordan also opened his 16th Saints training camp, a reminder of how much veteran presence still matters for a team trying to steady itself early. But the bigger concern came on day one, when defensive tackle Bryan Bresee went down with a knee injury, adding another layer of uncertainty to a camp that was supposed to be about building momentum and instead already feels uncomfortably familiar. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Fans Are Suddenly Hearing What They Needed About Kool-Aid McKinstry
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That matters for a defense that leans on its back end to hold up in different looks, and it has not gone unnoticed inside the locker room. One team captain singled out McKinstry in encouraging terms, a sign that the Saints are starting to see more than just potential from a player whose development could shape the tone of the secondary. [Read more 🡒]