The New Orleans Saints are still sorting out the picture for Week 1, and Thursday’s practice brought a few clues without giving away the whole story.
Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller were both on the field, a notable step as New Orleans keeps building toward its opener against the Detroit Lions. That said, simply showing up at practice does not lock either player into game-day status.
There were also several absences worth noting. Oscar Delp and Audric Estime were not seen.
Cam Jordan was out again as well, and he has already been ruled out for Week 1. Practice squad receivers Trey Palmer and Cedric Tillman were not spotted either.
One name that changed from Wednesday was Davon Godchaux. He was the only reported attendance difference from the previous day. Last season, he had Thursdays off, so another planned rest day is a possibility, though that has not been confirmed.
The Saints also had their coordinator media sessions on Thursday, giving a clearer look at the issues each phase is working through. Doug Nussmeier spoke for the offense, Brandon Staley addressed the defense, and Phil Galiano handled special teams.
Big Q broke down the key takeaways from each of those pressers, including what New Orleans needs from offensive execution, the challenges facing the defense in Week 1, and the importance of field position and clean play on special teams.
With more practice updates and final injury designations still to come, the Saints’ availability picture for the opener should sharpen soon. For now, the focus stays on how these developments shape the matchup with Detroit and which unit gives New Orleans the most confidence entering Week 1.
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 🡒]