Halftime: Chargers 9, Saints 3

Jon Endow-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

IGLEWOOD, Calif. – In a game that was supposed to be all about the quarterbacks for the New Orleans Saints, concern has been the headline.

Through the first half of the New Orleans Saints’ preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, several of last year’s issues have already reared their ugly heads.

Health Problems Again

The team has already had two offensive linemen, starting left guard Trevor Penning and backup interior lineman Will Clapp, carted off the field with apparent injuries.

Last year, New Orleans saw several of its starting offensive lineman and depth pieces miss multiple games. After an offseason of improved health practices and results, this is not the showing the team wanted to see in its first preseason game.

Offensive Line Depth Struggling

Starting quarterback Spencer Rattler saw most of the first half’s reps and spent what felt like the majority of them under pressure. In particular, free agent acquisition Dillon Radunz struggled mightily. He was responsible for at least a pair of sacks, including a sack-fumble. He was also called for a procedural penalty at one point.

The Saints have also struggled on the interior.

Penalties Just Won’t Quit

New Orleans had a ton of costly penalties last season, and that’s continued on Sunday. On a third and long stop on just the fifth play of the drive that would have forced a punt, cornerback Rico Payton was called for holding. That drive then turned into a 14-play touchdown drive.

The Saints have been called for five penalties for 36 yards while the Chargers have only been tapped for two for 12 yards.

Now, the Quarterbacks

Rattler finished his day 7/11 (63.6%) for 53 passing yards and a 75.2 passer rating along with three rushes for 22 yards. He was the leading rusher for the Saints in the first half. He appeared in five drives.

Shough came in to orchestrate a two-minute drill at the end of the first half. He went 5/8 on the nine-play, 52-yard scoring drive which concluded in a 31-yard field goal by kicker Blake Grupe