What we heard about the Saints closed practice on Thursday.
The New Orleans Saints participated in their eighth day of training camp on Thursday. This practice was not open to the public, but the media was allowed.
No Time Missed for Juwan Johnson
The Saints suffered three injuries in Wednesday’s practice. Juwan Johnson, Treyton Welch, and John Ridgeway III left with injuries. Johnson has been a heavy producer during the early period of training camp, and his injury was worrisome, but the veteran tight end was right back at practice on Thursday in full pads. Johnson participated in individual drills and was absent from team drills. The injury is a groin issue that could linger, but it will not result in any time missed for the veteran tight end, who is poised for a big season.
Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images
QB1 Battle
Tyler Shough
Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough threw two interceptions on Thursday. While yes, interceptions are bad, Shough finally let the ball loose. During Wednesday’s practice, the rookie signal caller was being overly cautious and only taking what the defense was giving him.
It has been reported that Shough was more decisive on day eight and more willing to make big-time throws. One of the second-round picks’ interceptions came on a deflected pass that linebacker Nephi Sewell would make a play on while diving to the ground, and the other was by safety Jordan Howden, who said he baited the rookie quarterback.
The reports for Shough on Thursday were often conflicting and inconsistent, but for the most part, reported that he was more willing to try different passes and was looking to make plays. Shough didn’t have any turnovers over the first week of training camp, but the defense finally got the best of him. But luckily for the rookie, this is only practice where looking to make plays is praised, and the cost of turning the ball over isn’t nearly what it is during the season.
Spencer Rattler
While Tyler Shough is still looking to gain more reps and develop, second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler appears to be a veteran quarterback leading the Saints’ offense. To this point, Rattler has been the clear-cut best quarterback in training camp and continues to impress. He has developed chemistry with all the wideouts, including his favorite target, Mason Tipton. This is Rattler’s job to lose, but preseason will be the most telling.
Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images
Jake Haener
Third-year quarterback Jake Haener has continuously been the underdog for the starting job, but the Saints must feel comfortable with the former fifth-round pick after releasing undrafted free agent Hunter Dekkers. Haener’s performance throughout training camp might be the most surprising from all the quarterbacks.
Haener has played well against Brandon Staley’s wildly drawn-up blitz and plays with an internal clock in his head. He has proved he can read coverages, and while not the flashiest, he makes play after play.
Special Teams Battle
Blake Grupe continued his dominance on Thursday, kicking 5/5, including makes from 53 and 51 yards. Grupe is now up to 19/20 during training camp. Second-year kicker Charlie Smyth was brought in to give Grupe some competition, and despite going 4/5 in Wednesday’s practice, he hasn’t been able to keep up with the Saints’ starting kicker.
New Orleans waived Hunter Dekkers to sign punter Kai Kroeger, bringing the total to three punters on the roster. The punter battle has been significantly more tight than the kicker battle, but the Saints wanted to bring in a 2025 undrafted free agent to get a better look at the competition.
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