The New Orleans Saints open the 2026 NFL preseason on Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Caesars Superdome, and one roster battle already has some urgency attached to it.
Charlie Smyth is the name to keep an eye on. The 25-year-old Irishman has had a rough training camp so far, and his hold on the kicking job could come under real pressure if that continues into the preseason opener.
The issue isn’t leg strength. Smyth has shown he can hit impressive kicks.
The problem has been putting them together with any sort of consistency, and that has been the biggest concern throughout camp. For a kicker trying to position himself as the Saints’ long-term answer, that kind of volatility is hard to ignore.
Saturday gives Smyth a chance to reset the conversation. Preseason games are where players in his spot can protect a roster path, and he needs to make the most of his opportunities. Another uneven performance would raise the stakes quickly and could push New Orleans to question how much trust it has in him before the regular season arrives.
The Saints do have another in-house option in Tanner Brown, which gives them some flexibility if Smyth doesn’t settle in. And if neither kicker separates himself, the veteran market could become part of the discussion down the line.
For now, though, the spotlight is squarely on Smyth. A strong showing could ease the concern and keep him in place as the favorite. Another shaky one, and New Orleans may have to start looking elsewhere.
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Brown has already begun separating himself from the pack in camp, which only adds more pressure to the players behind him trying to keep pace. Mason Tiptons situation adds another wrinkle to the mix as he works his way back from tibia surgery, leaving his path uncertain enough that the Saints may have to decide whether he fits better on an injured list designation or somewhere even farther down the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]