The Saints may have to piece together their passing game this season, and the pressure on Tyler Shough is already obvious. With injuries thinning out the offense and rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson set to miss time early, New Orleans no longer has the kind of receiving depth that makes life easy for a young quarterback.
Chris Olave still stands as the clear WR1, but the burden around him has grown fast. Tyson was expected to be a major factor right away, so his absence shifts more responsibility onto the rest of the group.
Devaughn Vele is one name to watch in the opening stretch after finishing last season with 25 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns. He ended the year on a strong note and heads into this season with some momentum, but the room looks a lot thinner without Tyson.
Rookie Barion Brown should also get a chance to carve out a role, though New Orleans may need a handful of receivers to chip in rather than expecting one player to step into Tyson’s spot. That kind of spread-out approach could define the Saints’ aerial attack early on.
The real help, though, may come from the tight ends. Juwan Johnson is the clear TE1 and could end up as the team’s No. 2 receiving target behind Olave. He took a big step forward last season, posting 77 catches for 889 yards and three touchdowns, and cemented himself as one of the league’s more productive receiving tight ends.
Behind him is Noah Fant, who brings more than just blocking value. As the second tight end on the depth chart, he gives New Orleans another legitimate receiving option if the wideouts struggle to separate consistently without Tyson. For Shough, that could make the difference between a passing game that sputters and one that stays afloat.
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 🡒]