METAIRIE, La. – It was another eventful day on Airline Drive as the New Orleans Saints returned for their second day of training camp practice. Headlining the day’s proceedings were a rookie’s first scoring strike, a corner’s injury scare turned sigh of relief and a pass rush on fire.
WR Jordyn Tyson Finds Paydirt
The rookie wideout’s first touchdown reception came on a red zone strike from quarterback Tyler Shough in team drills on Thursday. The pass, which was delivered with poise by Shough while under pressure up the middle, found Tyson’s hands as he took an outside break from his route at the front pylon of the endzone with STAR/slot defender Jonas Sanker trailing behind him.
Tyson has been excellent at creating separation both out of his breaks and immediately off of the line of scrimmage. This is what will make him a valuable asset in the red zone, as seen during this drill.
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry Injury: No Need for Alarms
McKinstry finished the day on the sideline, but in good spirits, after a minor ankle injury in practice. Head coach Kellen Moore called the decision a “precaution,” which matches the team’s typical approach to injury concerns.
LouisianaSports.Net received some updated information about the injury, which reinforces both the minor extent of the injury and the expected caution the team will carry forward as the week goes on
Pass Rush Getting After It
There were roughly six different plays that could have been blown dead with a defender in position to wrangle a sack in team drills. Defensive ends Chase Young, Fadil Diggs, Mike Heldman, defensive tackle Christen Miller, and linebacker Kaden Elliss and Isaiah Stalbird all found their way to the quarterback with additional players also generating pressure throughout the day.
The offensive line had a strong performance the first day, the defensive line answered the second. The back and forth is promising for the team’s 2026.
Play of the Day
Along with Tyson’s touchdown reception, cornerback Quincy Riley put up one of the best plays of the day with his diving interception at the goal line. During the final series of team drills in the red zone, Shough went back to Tyson. This time though, there was a miscommunication at the top of the route. Tyson broke inside while Shough targeted outside. Instead of the ball falling harmlessly to the ground, Riley made a diving attempt at it and was able to corral the interception for a big defensive play.
Shough Responds
The play after Riley’s interception, Shough showed what’s becoming a trademark for him: his ability to respond. The quarterback regrouped the offense, got back to the line of scrimmage and in a simulated third and goal, found tight end Noah Fant for a touchdown pass.
Team Drill Session 1
Shough
- RB Travis Etienne Jr. run up middle
- Shough sacked by Young off of play action.
- Shough complete to Tyson on a swing pass to the right for a catch and run, EDGE Cameron Jordan chased the play down after a good gain.
- RB Alvin Kamara run up the middle, LB Pete Werner with a great close on what would have been a quick stop.
Rattler
- WR Barion Brown run left
- RB Kendre Miller run up the middle
- RB Audric Estime run left for a nice gain
- Rattler incomplete, throwaway, Stalbird with pressure
Wilson
- RB CJ Donaldson run up the middle
- Heldman sack, great coverage downfield
- Donaldson run up the middle, DT Kristian Boyd with a quick stop.
- Donaldson run up the middle.
7-on-7s (Redzone)
Shough
- Shough complete to Kamara
- Shough complete to Etienne
- Shough incomplete to Tyson (Sanker in coverage) in the left short area
- Shough incomplete to WR Devaughn Vele (McKinstry in coverage), pass breakup for McKinstry.
Rattler
- Rattler complete to WR Bryce Lance
- Rattler incomplete to Brown (CB Martin Emerson Jr. in coverage) flagged for defensive pass interference
- Rattler incomplete to Estime (RB Jordan Howden) on a scramble to the right
- Rattler complete to WR Kevin Austin Jr. (CB Jayden Price) on a scramble to the right for a touchdown.
Wilson
- Wilson complete to WR Trey Palmer (CB Rejzohn Wright in coverage) in the left-short area.
- Heldman sacks WIlson, Wilson plays through for a touchdown pass to WR Bub Means.
- Wilson incomplete to Palmer (Sanker in coverage) Sanker pressed Palmer at the line of scrimmage, throwing off the timing of the fade ball on the right side.
- WIlson incomplete to TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden (LB Jackson Sirmon in coverage) thrown low.
Team Drill Session 2 (Red Zone)
Shough
- Shough complete to TE Juwan Johnson (S Julian Blackmon in coverage) to the left side off of play action.
- Kamara run up the middle, Shepherd would have had a tackle for a loss.
- Shough incomplete to Miller (Werner in coverage) throwaway in his direction.
- Shough complete to Tyson (Sanker in coverage) to the left side for a touchdown, Shough managed pressure up the middle on the rep.
Rattler
- RB Devin Neal run to the left
- Miller run up the middle
- Rattler incomplete to TE Oscar Delp (S Terrell Burgess in coverage) on a play action rollout, tight coverage by Burgess.
- Rattler incomplete Austin (CB Isaac Yiadom in coverage)
Wilson
- Estime run up the middle
- Wilson complete to Mitchell-Paden (CB TJ Hall in coverage) swing to the right
- Diggs sacks Wilson, Wilson plays through for a completion to Donaldson
- Wilson TE Treyton Welch (S Lorenzo Styles Jr. in coverage)
Team Drills Session 3 (Red Zone)
Shough
- Elliss sacks Shough
- Shough intercepted by Riley on target to Tyson
- Shough complete to Fant (Blackmon in coverage) for a touchdown
Rattler
- Rattler incomplete to TE Moliki Matavao (Emerson in coverage)
- Kamara run up the middle for a touchdown
- Rattler incomplete to Brown (Price in coverage) Price almost picked this on off at the front pylon on the right side. Great break on the ball but wasn’t able to reel it in. Had the makings of a pick-6 thanks to his reaction time.
Wilson
- Diggs sacks Wilson
- Miller sacks Wilson, Wilson plays through for a scramble
- Wilson complete to Mitchell-Paden in the middle for a touchdown.
Lagniappe
- EDGE Chris Rumph III began a transition to off-ball linebacker back in OTAs and has continued the change here throughout camp.
- Styles has been operating as the third-team STAR/slot cornerback.
- Defensive tackles Davon Godchaux and Shepherd handled the majority of first team defensive tackle reps with Bryan Bresee out with injury.
- Bresee is seeking a second opinion on his injury, though the expectation remains that he’ll eventually be diagnosed with an ACL tear.
