The New Orleans Saints opened preseason play with a loss, but the game still gave the staff and fan base a few reasons to take notice. The defense kept flashing throughout the night, the offense had its moments after a slow start, and three players in particular made strong cases for more attention going forward.
Jayden Price was one of the clearest standouts. He has already built momentum during training camp, and he backed it up when the lights came on.
Price showed sharp zone coverage, made an impact on special teams, broke up a pass, and came down with an interception. He may not be in line to start immediately with Jonas Sanker handling the slot, but he looks like the kind of player who can matter on special teams and step in if injuries hit.
Michael Heldman also made the most of his opportunity. The EDGE rusher came into the game with a quieter camp than some of the other names drawing attention, but he delivered when it counted.
Heldman finished with two sacks and three tackles for loss. It came against backups, but that still counts for something, especially for a player trying to climb the depth chart and earn trust from the coaching staff.
Then there’s Bub Means, who may have done enough to shake up the wide receiver conversation. The battle there has already seen its share of twists, with Jalyn Polk once viewed as the favorite before his retirement, and Trey Palmer and Kevin Austin Jr. also in the mix.
Means entered the preseason needing a big night because his path to the roster is far from secure after major injuries in his first two seasons. He responded with big plays and steady production as a pass catcher, exactly the kind of showing he needed.
In Other News...
Saints Quarterback Battle Just Took An Early Turn Behind Tyler Shough
The Saints first preseason game offered an early look at how the quarterback picture might unfold behind Tyler Shough, and it was Zach Wilson who made the stronger impression against Jacksonville. Spencer Rattler got the start in the opener, but the offense looked more settled once Wilson took over, as New Orleans kept the competition under the microscope in a 24-20 loss.
Rattler did connect on a few throws, but the turnover and limited production left him with an uneven night before Wilson entered and gave the staff something to think about. The bigger point for the Saints is that this battle was never likely to be settled in one August outing, yet the first turn certainly created a clearer line for how the pecking order may look as camp moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Preseason Just Made Several Roster Battles Feel A Lot More Tense
The Saints are still in the thick of several roster battles as training camp and preseason games keep sharpening every edge of the competition. Kellen Moore has made it clear he sees the kicking job as a work in progress, even after Charlie Smyths miss from 52 yards against Jacksonville and Tanner Brown connected on both of his tries in the same game. Add that to the ongoing quarterback, running back and wide receiver competitions, and every snap has started to feel a little heavier.
Some of the pressure has only grown with the way the Jaguars game unfolded, where the top of the depth chart and the back end of the roster both seemed to shift in real time. The Saints are still sorting through who belongs where, and the next few practices and preseason reps will matter just as much for players trying to lock down roles as they do for those trying to stay in the picture at all. [Read more 🡒]