Saints Training Camp Day 9: Slow day for the QBs

By Ross Jackson

METAIRIE, La. – Sometimes the hard work isn’t the most exciting work. That was certainly the case at New Orleans Saints practice on Saturday. The focus of the day was centered around a pair of situations:

• Four-minute, run out the clock scenario drills
• Backed up at own two yard-line

With that, there weren’t a lot of fireworks to be had. But the work is pivotal for these young passers as well as the team as a whole. How many four-minute drives this team will be running in 2025 to protect a late lead remains to be seen. But better to be prepared than not.

Nick Saldiveri’s Season is Over

Head coach Kellen Moore made the announcement in his post-practice media availability that third-year offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri will be placed on injured reserve with an injury that was previously reported as a leg injury.

Move comes after Nick Saldiveri suffered a leg injury, according to a source https://t.co/KZU4gbvb7P

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 2, 2025

Saldiveri’s first team seasons in the league ended with him going to injured reserve, now, his third year won’t get off the ground. The Saints signed offensive lineman Shane Lemieux to help fill the void on the interior offensive line. Lemieux filled in immediately at third team left guard. He also started four games at center last year, appearing in six.

The Quarterback Battle

There wasn’t a lot of movement in the quarterback battle on Saturday, but one notable development did take place for the first time in training camp. Second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler saw his first third-team reps of the summer. 

Rattler mentioned in an interview with Yahoo! Sports that he had not seen any third team reps following day eight of camp. That is now no longer the case, but the two happenings aren’t connected. 

“Just balancing out the rotations really,” Moore said when asked about the decision. “Just looking at the numbers on an off day and just making sure we keep rotating these guys kind of going through that.”

On Saturday, rookie Tyler Shough was with the first team. Third-year passer Jake Haener was with the second. Rattler took his first snaps with the third team. 

Shough Rep Charting

First Series of Team Drills (Drive starters from the 35 yard-line)

• First-and-10: Alvin Kamara run up middle
• Second-and-five: Clyde Edwards-Helaire run up middle. Bryan Bresee with the stuff
• First-and-10: Shough complete to Chris Olave (Justin Reid in coverage) Shough had to take an insane arm angle on this throw, delivered it perfectly to a crossing Olave. One of his best throws of camp
• Second-and-five: Shough pulls down and scrambles up the middle off of play action. Nice gain

Second Series of Team Drills (Drive starters from the 45 yard-line)

• First-and-10: Shough incomplete to Jack Stoll (Alontae Taylor in coverage) great pass breakup by Taylor. 
• First-and-10: Shough incomplete to Kamara (Carl Granderson in coverage) throw was a bit high, Kamara couldn’t corral. 
• Second-and-five: Shough complete to Cam Akers (Cam Jordan in coverage) screen right. First down.
• Second-and-five: Re-huddle
• Second-and-five: Shough complete to Olave (Isaac Yiadom in coverage) great zip on this pass for a first down in the middle of the field. Alontae Taylor with pressure.

Third Series of Team Drills (Backed up in own territory, first down or punt on fourth ends series)

• First-and-10 (two yard-line): Shough complete to Stoll (Taylor in coverage) quick pass to the right
• Second-and-six (six yard-line): Kamara run right
• Third-and-four (eight yard-line): Shough complete to Kamara left. Chase Young with pressure

Fourth Series of Team Drills (Backed up in own territory, first down or punt on fourth ends series)

• First-and-10 (two yard-line): Shough complete to Edwards-Helaire (Taylor closest in coverage) play action pass to the right, catch and run for a first down

Fifth Series of Team Drills (Four-minute drill, offense leads, fourth down ends series)

• 4:00 – First-and-10 (35 yard-line): Kendre Miller run middle, no gain
• 3:17 – Second-and-10 (35 yard-line): Shough complete to Olave (open) was able to pick up first down after the catch, get down in bounds.
• 2:40 – First-and-10 (50 yard-line) Miller run right, Bresee stop for no gain. Timeout defense.
• 2:36 – Second-and-10 (50 yard-line): Shough complete to Rashid Shaheed (Yiadom in coverage) slant middle for eight yards. Timeout defense
• 2:28 – Third-and-two (42 yard-line): Timeout offense
• 2:28 – Third-and-two (42 yard-line): Edwards-Helaire run up middle, stopped inches short of first down

Shough had the most impressive throws of the day. He won one of his two backed up series by converting a first down and was the only passer to pick up a first down in four-minute drills.

Haener Rep Charting:

First Series of Team Drills (Drive starters from the 35 yard-line)

• First-and-10: Cam Akers run up middle
• Second-and-five: Haener complete to Stoll (Danny Stutsman and Yiadom in coverage) crosser in the middle of the field
• First-and-10: Haener complete to Velus Jones Jr. (D’Marco Jackson in coverage) play action to the right flat
• Second-and-five: Akers run left

Second Series of Team Drills (Drive starters from the 45 yard-line)

• First-and-10: Haener complete to Edwards-Helaire (Jaylan Ford in coverage) swing left. Jordan pressure, Ford tackle for a loss
• Second-and-five: Haener complete to Edwards-Helaire (Ford in coverage) swing left, catch and run for a first down
• Second-and-five: Jones run right, Quincy Riley stop
• Third-and-five: Haener complete to Shaheed (Riley in coverage) crosser going left

Third Series of Team Drills (Backed up in own territory, first down or punt on fourth ends series)

• First-and-10 (two yard-line): Haener incomplete, batted at the line by Khristian Boyd or Nathan Shepherd
• Second-and-10 (two yard-line): Haener complete to Mason Tipton (Rico Payton in coverage) catch and run on the right side. First down

Fourth Series of Team Drills (Backed up in own territory, first down or punt on fourth ends series)

• First-and-10 (two yard-line): Haener throw away right sideline, Tipton in the area
• Second-and-10 (two yard-line): Haener complete to Treyton Welch (Chris Rumph and Payton in the area) right side, short
• Third-and-six (six yard-line): Haener throwaway after low snap, Stutsman pressure

Fifth Series of Team Drills (Four-minute drill, offense leads, fourth down ends series)

• 4:00 – First-and-10 (35 yard-line): Akers run left for no gain
• 3:14 – Second-and-10 (35 yard-line): Haener complete to Tipton (Riley in coverage) over the middle on a crosser, short gain
• 2:34 – Third-and-eight (37 yard-line) Haener incomplete to Kevin Austin Jr. (Payton) Jonah Williams with pressure

A modest day for Haener who kept a high completion percentage going, but wasn’t able to convert a first down on the four-minute drill. Did, however, get one in the backed up situational portion. Made some wise decisions with throwaways, especially when up against his own goal line but doesn’t use his legs to gain yardage the way Shough and Rattler have showcased in camp.

Rattler Rep Charting:

First Series of Team Drills (Drive starters from the 35 yard-line)

• First-and-10: Jones run left, Jonas Sanker with the stop, filling the edge
• Second-and-five: Rattler incomplete to Miller (Payton in coverage) play action pass to Miller in the flats, but dropped
• First-and-10: Rattler keeper left for a short gain
• Second-and-five: Rattler complete to Marcus Yarns (open) flat sideline. First down on the catch and run

Second Series of Team Drills (Drive starters from the 45 yard-line)

• First-and-10: Rattler complete to Tipton (Jackson in coverage) crosser going right
• First-and-10: Yarns run left, Sanker quickly closed for the stop
• Second-and-five: Rattler complete to Yarns (Elliott Davison and Jackson in coverage) swing right
• Third-and-five: Re-huddle
• Third-and-five: Rattler complete to Jones (Davison closest defender) swing right, first down

Third Series of Team Drills (Backed up in own territory, first down or punt on fourth ends series)

• First-and-10 (two yard-line): Akers run left
• Second-and-six (six yard-line): Rattler complete to Bub Means (Rejzohn Wright in coverage) left sideline for a first down

Fourth Series of Team Drills (Four-minute drill, offense leads, fourth down ends series)

• 4:00 – First-and-10 (35 yard-line): Rattler sacked by Jasheen Davis
• 3:17 – Second-and-15 (30 yard-line): Rattler complete to Means (Jayden Price in coverage) for nine yards
• 2:27 – Third-and-six (39 yard-line) Yarns run left, stopped short

Rattler was given the lightest workload after outpacing Shough and Haener by nearly 20 reps in the first eight practices (not including Tuesday’s walkthrough and each day’s development drills). His day was also modest, but he did win his backed up rep, converting a first down on the second play.

Quarterback Rep Distribution (excluding re-huddles and penalties)

Shough: 18

Haener: 16

Rattler: 13

Passing Attempts/Completions (Running Total)

Shough: 8/10 (42/68, four passing touchdowns and two interceptions)

Haener: 8/12 (60/87, five passing touchdowns, one interception)

Rattler: 6/7 (67/90, eight passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and three interceptions)

Attendance and Injury Updates

Players that were not seen during Saturday’s practice:

• S J.T. Gray – Hamstring (week-to-week)
• DT Khalen Saunders – Excused absence
• OL Nick Saldiveri – Leg (Injured Reserve)

Tight end Juwan Johnson, running back Devin Neal and offensive lineman Landon Young were limited in practice, but present.

Defensive tackle John Ridgeway III and tight end Treyton Welch returned to practice.

Tight ends Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill were spotted working before practice began and Moreau roamed the sidelines during the day’s work.

Roster Moves

Along with Saldiveri being moved to injured reserve, the Saints’ newly-signed offensive lineman Shane Lemieux was immediately present and working with the third team offensive line.

Charlie Smyth Gets Blocked

During Smyth’s field goal work, safety Justin Reid sped around the left edge and blocked an extra point attempt. He also missed one field goal attempt soon after, but drove home his longest kicks of camp.

Smyth had makes by 40 yards, 51 yards and 53 yards out. His misses came from the blocked extra point and 46 yards.

He is now 13/22 through camp while Blake Grupe is holding strong at 19/20.

Punter Rotations

New punter Kai Kroeger rotated with undrafted punter James Burnip on punts for the day. They each booted numerous kicks throughout special teams drills, but also each got an extra point during the backed up team drills when offenses couldn’t convert on third down.

Burnip hangtimes:

4.26s, 4.91s, 4.87s, 4.53s, 4.68s, 4.07s, 5.00s and 4.93s

Kroeger hangtimes:

4.56s, 4.59s, 4.13s, 4.30s, 4.50s, 4.94s, 4.35s and 4.59s

Returners included: Shaheed, Price, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Ugo Amadi and Dante Pettis.

Rookie Safety Jonas Sanker Impresses:

Sanker is a versatile safety that can fly around, make plays and be very physical and aggressive. That all showed on Saturday. His work in the flats, sealing the edge in the run and playing down in the box drew many eyes and much praise. It was the young safety’s strangest day of camp thus far.

Up Next:

Per Moore, Sunday’s practice will include scrimmage work, which makes for a very important upcoming day on Airline Drive. The quarterback rotation will be very intriguing to see. Moore said that the day will include thud tempos, as we’ve seen each day in pads for the team. However, he did leave the door open for the potential for live tackling towards the end of the day.

Revisit Previous Observations

DAY ONE – Rattler perfect in passing

DAY TWO – Defense takes control

DAY THREE- Rattler, offense bounce back

DAY FOUR – Defense claps back

DAY FIVE – Defensive line thrives