The New Orleans Saints don’t get a soft landing to start 2026. They head straight into the kind of Week 1 test that tells you a lot about where a team really stands, traveling Sunday afternoon to Ford Field to face the Detroit Lions.
Detroit is trying to move past a frustrating 9-8 finish from a year ago, and the Saints are looking to show real growth in Year 2 under head coach Kellen Moore. New Orleans went 6-11 last season, but it closed with four wins in its final five games and enters this year with much bigger expectations around it. Tyler Shough has stepped into a leadership role at quarterback, and the Saints added pieces in the offseason to give him more support.
That doesn’t mean this opener comes with any cushion.
The Lions bring a loaded roster and a pass rush that can wreck a game in a hurry. Aidan Hutchinson is coming off a career-high 14.5-sack season, a stretch that earned him second-team All-Pro honors and confirmed him as one of the league’s top edge rushers. Playing at Ford Field only adds to the challenge for a Saints team trying to find its footing early.
New Orleans is also walking into this one banged up. Alvin Kamara has been limited in practice all week and could miss the game because of an MCL injury, which would put offseason addition Travis Etienne into a major role.
First-round receiver Jordyn Tyson is already out for the first four games after going on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. On defense, the Saints will be without Cam Jordan, who was ruled out Wednesday with a hamstring injury, and Bryan Bresee, who was placed on injured reserve in early August.
There are also some cracks on Detroit’s side that could matter. The Lions will be without Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph for at least the first four games, and Christian Izien, Derrick Moore and Mekhi Wingo have all been limited in practice this week. That gives Shough a chance to test a secondary that won’t be at full strength.
For New Orleans, the key is simple enough: keep Shough upright and find enough of a run game to stop Hutchinson and the Lions’ pass rush from dictating everything. If the Saints can do that, this has the feel of a game that can stay tight deep into the fourth quarter.
Detroit still has the home field, the more proven offense and a defense that can create headaches for a young quarterback. The Lions are 6.5-point favorites, and the edge leans their way because they have enough firepower to make the plays that matter late.
Still, if Shough can land the big throws in a tough road environment, the Saints could make a strong early statement that this is not the same 6-11 team from last season.
In Other News...
Saints Now Have One More Lions Opener Wrinkle To Prepare For
The Lions added another layer to their opener plans by promoting wide receiver and return man Tom Kennedy to the active 53-man roster ahead of their 2026 matchup with the Saints. Kennedy is expected to handle punt and kick return duties, giving Detroit a more defined answer in the third phase of the game as it gets ready for Sunday.
For New Orleans, it is one more detail to sort through before the first real snap of the season, especially in a game where field position can matter early. Detroit also added defensive back Natrone Brooks to its practice squad, a smaller move on paper, but the Kennedy promotion is the one the Saints will be watching closest as they finalize their own opener prep. [Read more 🡒]
Kendre Miller Just Cleared One Saints Concern But Another Is Growing
Kendre Miller no longer appears on the Saints injury report heading into the season opener, which is an encouraging development after he missed practice last week because of an injury. For a player trying to carve out a real role early in the year, simply getting through the final stretch of preparation without an issue matters, especially with New Orleans looking to sort out its backfield rotation from the start.
The larger question now is how much room Miller will actually have once Alvin Kamara is back in the mix. Kamaras return could cap Millers workload, even though there is still a path for him to contribute if he brings the kind of explosiveness the Saints want to see. The expectation is that Miller could see a modest number of carries each game, but his impact may depend on whether he can make the most of those chances. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Need Chase Young To Deliver In A Brutal Week 1 Test
Cameron Jordans absence from the Saints regular-season opener is a significant blow before New Orleans even gets to the first Sunday of the year. Jordan, long one of the most dependable players on the defense, will sit out against Detroit after a hamstring injury in training camp, leaving the Saints to reshuffle their pass-rush plans for a matchup that already looked demanding.
Chase Young is now in line for a much bigger load, and the timing could hardly be tougher. The Lions bring a difficult offense led by Jared Goff, so New Orleans will need pressure up front to keep the game under control and prevent Detroit from settling in. For the Saints, this is the kind of Week 1 test that can quickly show whether Young is ready to carry more of the burden. [Read more 🡒]