Training camps have kicked off around the NFL, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The New Orleans Saints' camp is taking place in Metairie, Louisiana and Saints reporter Katherine Terrell has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and of course the quarterback room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at Saints camp. We will file the latest updates. Who will emerge with the starting quarterback job? Who are the breakouts to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Let's get into it all, and be sure to keep checking back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins on Aug. 7.
Latest news from Saints camp
Friday, July 25
The quarterback rotation continued for a third day, with Jake Haener taking the first-team snaps. Spencer Rattler had previously gotten snaps with the first team in Practice 1 and rookie Tyler Shough got first-team snaps on the second. Haener admitted he didn't come in as the favorite to win the job in the three-man race when speaking to reporters Thursday, but he won't let that stop him. "When you're the underdog ... and your back is kind of up against the wall, that's when I play my best," Haener said.
Rattler made a good case for the play of the day while working with the second-team. He threw a deep pass to wide receiver Mason Tipton, who ran for about 40 yards into the end zone while being trailed by rookie Quincy Riley. Rattler, who threw an interception yesterday, completed all of his passes in both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.
Shough, working with the third-team, did not get as many reps as the first two days, which is not unusual for the rotation. His best pass came on a completion to tight end Juwan Johnson on a crossing route during 7-on-7 drills.
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Rest days for several vets: The Saints are heavily leaning into director of sports science Ted Rath's system. Cameron Jordan, Alvin Kamara, Erik McCoy, Brandin Cooks and Davon Godchaux all got rest days. Will Clapp subbed in for McCoy as the first-team center.
Return of Tipton: He made the team last year with an excellent camp but caught only 14 passes in the regular season. He had a good day, catching passes from all three quarterbacks and making some highlight plays.
Kicker takeover: Blake Grupe took over kicking duties, going 4 of 5 while missing one 49-yarder that occurred during a light rainshower.
Thursday, July 24
The defense won the second day of training camp in a red zone-focused practice.
Tyler Shough got first-team reps while Spencer Rattler worked with the second team. There were mistakes to go around, especially toward the end of practice, which saw two false starts with the second-team and then another one with the third team a minute later. Rattler threw the first interception of camp, but followed it up by running in for a touchdown. Shough had to throw away a few passes in the end zone but finished with a touchdown to Rashid Shaheed, and Jake Haener had a highlight throw to Juwan Johnson in the end zone in 7-on-7 drills with the third team.
It was a surprisingly poor showing from kicker Charlie Smyth, who missed 3-of-5 attempts. Smyth, a second-year player who joined the team via the International Player Pathway last year, is competing with veteran Blake Grupe.
The team saw its first fight of camp when Brandin Cooks ended up in the middle of a scrum that grew in size as more players rushed in to break it up. The skirmish ended quickly with no players thrown out of practice.
Recently signed players safety Julian Blackmon and defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard were both at camp and participating.
Wednesday, July 23
Second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler took the snaps with the first team during the team's first practice, but expect him to rotate with rookie Tyler Shough.
"Spencer obviously took ... all the ones today. Tyler will take them tomorrow and we'll continue to rotate all these guys," Saints coach Kellen Moore said Wednesday.
This is the first true quarterback competition for the Saints since Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston competed in 2021. Moore said he does not feel a rush to define a starter right away.
"Obviously the sooner you make a decision, the sooner you can focus in on certain personnel groups and consistencies. But we'll let the process take as long as it needs to," he said.
Practice lasted for about an hour as the team ramps up camp. Moore said this is the shortest practice the team will have and he expects a similar shorter practice on Thursday.
Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau were the only players not participating, as they will begin camp on the physically unable to perform list. Tyrann Mathieu was also not present after announcing his retirement yesterday.