The New Orleans Saints got the kind of passing-day buzz they were looking for in their joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tyler Shough hit multiple touchdown throws in the red zone period, and there was even what might have been a long score to Bryce Lance if the tackle had been finished. On the surface, it was the sort of day that makes an offense feel like it’s moving in the right direction.
But the biggest takeaway was harder to ignore: the Saints are still giving up too much pressure.
That problem showed up again and again in camp, even while the passing game found some rhythm against Jacksonville. The red zone work looked cleaner, but the protection issues never really went away.
And in a real game, that balance matters. Big downfield moments only go so far if the pocket collapses before the play can fully develop.
Chris Olave’s catch over Travis Hunter is the perfect example. It was the kind of snap that grabs attention right away, because the throw and the finish were both impressive.
But the play would have been a sack in live action. At training camp, the rep keeps going.
In a game, the pressure ends it.
That’s why the Saints can’t shrug this off. They’ve seen the same thing all camp, and they dealt with too much of it last season, too.
Shough did a lot of good things while working through pressure a year ago, but the hope now is that he has to do less of that. He was sacked 31 times last year, which ranked 15th in the league even though he only played in 11 games.
That’s the kind of number the Saints want to cut down, and it’s part of why they brought in David Edwards.
So no, this doesn’t mean the offensive line is doomed. But it is something to keep watching, especially as the Saints get into more unfamiliar passing situations in quick succession.
The offense has enough talent to look much better than it did a year ago. Jordyn Tyson raises the ceiling of the receiver room, while Barion Brown and Bryce Lance bring high-upside depth behind him.
There’s help at tight end, too, with Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant giving the Saints a solid pair there. Shough’s connection with Johnson last year already showed up, and both Travis Etienne Jr and Alvin Kamara can work as receivers out of the backfield. The pieces are there.
The issue is simple: none of it matters if Shough doesn’t have time to get the ball out.
In Other News...
Jayden Price Is Making Noise In A Saints Battle That Isnt Settled
The Saints cornerback competition has been one of the more watchable parts of camp, and Jayden Price has kept himself in the conversation with a steady training-camp showing. His value is tied to versatility, and that kind of flexibility matters for a secondary still sorting out its backups. For now, he looks like a player the staff can trust in the slot if needed, which is exactly the sort of foothold that can turn a camp performer into a real roster candidate.
Still, nothing about his spot is locked in. Price is in a crowded fight for a place on the depth chart, and the Saints will keep sorting through preseason reps before making any final decisions. The next few weeks will matter for a player who has already made some noise, but still has to prove that the early momentum is enough to stick. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Preseason Opener Could Shake Up More Than A Few Roster Spots
With the starters staying on the sideline for the preseason opener against Jacksonville, the Saints are turning the night into an extended audition for the depth chart. Training camp has already put a few rookies and fringe veterans on the radar, and that group now gets a game setting to back up the momentum they have built in practices. Among the players worth watching are running backs Audric Estime and C.J. Donaldson, wide receivers Bryce Lance, Barion Brown and Kevin Austin, plus linemen Jeremiah Wright and Christen Miller.
The stakes are straightforward even if the roster math is not. New Orleans still has to sort out who can help now and who is merely camp noise, and injuries have kept some contenders from showing everything they can do. For players on the bubble, the opener is one of the first real chances to make a case, and the Saints will be looking closely at which performances translate beyond the practice field. [Read more 🡒]