Tyler Shough is already stepping into one of the Saints’ more meaningful little rituals.
Before Saturday’s preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the second-year quarterback took over the pregame huddle, filling the role Demario Davis had carried on from Drew Brees. It was a small moment, but one the Saints clearly wanted to see as they continue shaping a younger roster around Shough.
That part matters. New Orleans has spent real energy rebuilding and getting younger since drafting him, and Shough is the kind of player they believe fits that plan. He doesn’t fit the usual picture of a young quarterback - he turns 27 in September - but the Saints were drawn to something less obvious: his maturity and his ability to lead.
His college path helped build that case. Shough won a pair of quarterback competitions while also dealing with season-ending injuries, and he emerged from all of that with the kind of steadiness the Saints liked. Now comes the harder part: proving it carries over once the games start to count.
He wasn’t available for the Saints’ first preseason game, and neither was the rest of the starting offense or defense. That means the real look at Shough is still ahead. New Orleans is set to travel to California for joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys, along with two road exhibition games against those same teams.
For now, the Saints are acting like they’ve found their quarterback answer. Shough leading the huddle was another sign of that. The next step is backing it up.
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Saints Quarterback Battle Just Took An Early Turn Behind Tyler Shough
The Saints first preseason game offered an early look at how the quarterback picture might unfold behind Tyler Shough, and it was Zach Wilson who made the stronger impression against Jacksonville. Spencer Rattler got the start in the opener, but the offense looked more settled once Wilson took over, as New Orleans kept the competition under the microscope in a 24-20 loss.
Rattler did connect on a few throws, but the turnover and limited production left him with an uneven night before Wilson entered and gave the staff something to think about. The bigger point for the Saints is that this battle was never likely to be settled in one August outing, yet the first turn certainly created a clearer line for how the pecking order may look as camp moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Loss May Have Clarified A Roster Battle Coaches Needed To See
The Saints first preseason game offered the kind of snapshot coaches often say they need, even in a loss. It was less about the final result than the opening look at several players trying to force their way onto the roster picture, with defensive back Jayden Price showing up in a big way and Bub Means giving the passing game a steady target.
Prices work in zone coverage stood out throughout the night, and the defense also got a strong push from edge rusher Michael Heldman, who was around the ball repeatedly. Means, meanwhile, made his case with a handful of meaningful grabs and the sort of consistency that can matter in a crowded competition, leaving the Saints with at least a clearer sense of which battles deserve a longer look. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Preseason Just Made Several Roster Battles Feel A Lot More Tense
The Saints are still in the thick of several roster battles as training camp and preseason games keep sharpening every edge of the competition. Kellen Moore has made it clear he sees the kicking job as a work in progress, even after Charlie Smyths miss from 52 yards against Jacksonville and Tanner Brown connected on both of his tries in the same game. Add that to the ongoing quarterback, running back and wide receiver competitions, and every snap has started to feel a little heavier.
Some of the pressure has only grown with the way the Jaguars game unfolded, where the top of the depth chart and the back end of the roster both seemed to shift in real time. The Saints are still sorting through who belongs where, and the next few practices and preseason reps will matter just as much for players trying to lock down roles as they do for those trying to stay in the picture at all. [Read more 🡒]