What to watch as the Saints begin preseason ball
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Quarterback Tyler Shough looks to pass during a training camp scrimmage in Metairie on Aug. 3. Photo: Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images
New Orleans is back in the game this weekend with the Saints cued up to play their first preseason game Sunday.
Why it matters: Everyone will be watching who lines up at quarterback as the team, under a new head coach, rebuilds for a new era.
Catch up quick: Most Saints fans would rather forget the 2024 season.
- A 5-12 record sent them straight to the bottom of the NFC South for the year, stats that come as no surprise considering the upheaval at head coach.
- The Saints started the season with Dennis Allen at the helm, but after a seven-game losing streak, the top brass gave him the boot. Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi stepped up to lead through the rest of the year.
That set up the front office for a lot of off-season change, and the team tapped Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for the head coaching job.
- Early reviews from inside the locker room indicate the players love Moore's style.
- "Coach Kellen, how he's approached the training staff, the staff in general [and] how they take care of the guys, it's the best training camp I've been a part of. Grind, grind, then we're gonna take care of you, grind, grind," defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said earlier this summer, according to Yahoo.
Go deeper: The Times-Picayune's Luke Johnson traveled to Moore's hometown during the offseason to learn more about his background. Read his story.
Zoom in: Personnel inside the locker room changed, too, with surprise retirements from quarterback Derek Carr and fan favorite Tyrann Mathieu.
- But the Saints picked up players like Godchaux, wide receiver Brandin Cooks and safety Justin Reid.
What we're watching: Carr's unexpected departure due to a shoulder injury left a massive gap in the roster, which Moore appears likely to fill with Tyler Shough.
- The team picked the young QB 40th in the NFL draft in April, and he's been battling Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener for the starting role ever since.
The bottom line: "Everyone wants to be out there on Sundays as a starting quarterback in the NFL," Moore said, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell.
- "That's every quarterback's goal and dream, and that should be it. Ultimately, one's going to play."
How to watch: The Saints, who are practicing on the West Coast for the next week, play the Los Angeles Chargers in SoFi Stadium on Sunday at 3:05pm Central.
- Watch on Fox 8.