Welcome to the first Saints rookie report of the preseason, and this opening week already has a few names worth watching closely. Some of this class looks ready for a fast start, while a few others are still trying to turn camp momentum into real game snaps.
Jordyn Tyson sits at the top of the list, but his preseason workload could be handled carefully. The Saints may be smart to avoid pushing his health too hard before the games count, though it would not be a shock if he still gets on the field at some point before the regular season.
He is a rookie, after all, and those NFL reps matter. Tyson already looks like one of the Saints’ best offensive players, even if fans may have to wait a bit to see him in action.
Christen Miller is on the other end of that spectrum. The second-round pick has worked through some minor injuries this offseason, but he is back in practice and should be ready for Saturday.
With other injuries in the defensive tackle room, Miller is in line to start at nose tackle in the preseason. Even if Davon Godchaux were healthy, that would likely have been the plan anyway.
This is a big chance for Miller to show the staff he can contribute right away when the regular season opens.
Oscar Delp also has a real opening in front of him. Juwan Johnson is likely to see limited preseason action, which puts the rookie in position to take on a larger role for these exhibition games.
Delp’s college production was not eye-popping, but the talent was always part of the appeal. His athleticism separates him from other tight ends, and his blocking should help too.
During the regular season, his snaps are expected to be limited as a rookie, so preseason may be where he makes his biggest impression. How the Saints use him in the red zone will be worth tracking.
Jeremiah Wright falls into a different category. He has dealt with some minor injuries in training camp, and he is the first depth piece from this draft class who may not see the field this season.
That makes preseason especially important for him. A strong showing over the next few games could at least put a starting job discussion on the table, though that still seems unlikely.
Wright is viewed more as a developmental prospect, even with the positive start he has had in camp.
The wide receiver duo of Bryce Lance and Barion Brown deserves to be taken together, because both have made similar impressions so far. Lance has been steady throughout camp and has added a few big plays to that consistency, making him one of the standouts.
Brown has been more of a splash-play threat, and while the drops have shown up, he has been largely consistent overall. Neither player is expected to crack the Saints’ top three receivers, but both can help right away, and preseason gives them a chance to prove it.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. and TJ Hall form the other pairing to watch. Like Lance and Brown, they are rookies with overlapping roles and a clear preseason purpose.
Both should make an early impact on special teams more than defense, but preseason will give them a chance to show what they can offer on that side of the ball now and down the line. Styles Jr. brings rare athleticism and the kind of versatility that lets him work at safety or cornerback.
Hall can line up outside or in the slot. Injuries could create some defensive snaps for both during the season, but for now, most of their real game action on defense is likely to come in preseason.
In Other News...
Saints Fans Have A New Reason To Worry About Jordyn Tyson
Jordyn Tysons first summer with the Saints has already had enough stop-and-start moments to keep the attention on him, and Wednesday added another one. The first-round wide receiver was working at practice on Aug. 13 before leaving early with trainers because of a hamstring issue, a frustrating development for a player trying to build momentum in camp after dealing with injuries earlier in the offseason.
The encouraging part is that the injury is not considered serious, but it still lands at an inconvenient time with the Saints first preseason game coming Aug. 15. Tysons availability for that opener is now uncertain, which is enough to make this a storyline worth watching closely even if the long-term outlook remains relatively calm. [Read more 🡒]
Travis Etienne Jr.s First Saints Action Carries A Painful Superdome Twist
Travis Etienne Jr. is in line for his first live game action in a Saints uniform when New Orleans opens the preseason against Jacksonville at the Caesars Superdome. The running back, who signed a four-year deal with the Saints during the offseason, has a chance to get his debut against the same team he spent his first four NFL seasons with, even as New Orleans is expected to keep its starters on a short leash.
There is also a strange bit of history attached to the setting. Etiennes last preseason trip to the Superdome came in 2021, when a Lisfranc injury in that game wiped out his entire rookie season, making this return feel like more than a routine exhibition stop. For a player trying to settle into a new offense and a new chapter, the building itself carries a memory that will hang over whatever workload he gets. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Receiver Battle Is Suddenly Turning Up The Pressure
The Saints have reached that part of camp where the wide receiver room stops being a talking point and starts becoming a daily audit. As New Orleans heads into the 2026 preseason, the group around Barion Brown, Bryce Lance and Kevin Austin Jr. has turned into one of the more interesting roster battles on the team, with every practice rep carrying a little more weight as coaches sort out who can stick.
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 🡒]