The New Orleans Saints were back in pads as they returned from their second day off of camp, going into the second half of their installation process. The offense and defense had a bit more of a back and forth in their return to the field, but ultimately, the day felt like it belonged to the defense until the final team reps, which were simulated two-minute drills.
The big story of the day comes down to a rookie that continues to shine.
WR Barion Brown Does It Again
Whether it’s one-on-ones or team drills, Brown just keeps showing up. He made an outstanding diving catch at the sideline while matched up with cornerback Isaac Yiadom to open up one-on-ones. The catch drew a huge reaction from the fans in attendance. He would then go on to win his next two reps in the drill, including one that came with a great release from the line of scrimmage.
Then, as practice was nearing its end, he had a 36-yard catch and run that helped put the offense in field goal range by showing off his speed after making a reception under a leaping Martin Emerson Jr. at cornerback.
The rookie has been the star throughout camp thus far and isn’t showing many signs of slowing down soon.
Attendance
Starting right guard Cesar Ruiz returned to action after being away to be present for the expansion of his family as they welcomed son Caiden Ruiz to the world. In his return, he appeared to get a series off, but was otherwise fully involved. When he was out, offensive lineman Dillon Radunz assumed the right guard role with the first team, allowing rookie Jeremiah Wright to elevate to the second at the same spot.
Wright was among a group of players that was limited or is managing injury throughout the day. He left practice early with a shoulder injury while running back Kendre Miller (back), defensive tackle Keeshawn Silver (calf) and defensive tackle Christen Miller (toe) were all present but limited.
Wide receiver Mason Tipton continued to observe from the sideline during practice as he recovers from his offseason procedure.
The only two players that were not seen were defensive linemen Bryan Bresee (knee) and Zxavian Harris, who is on the Non-Football Injury list.
Third-Team Center Shuffle
Offensive lineman Easton Stick rotated in as the third team center on Wednesday in place of lineman WIlliam Sherman, who moved to second team left guard for the day.
WR/CB One-on-Ones
Wide receivers Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson as well as cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry did not participate in these drills.
- Brown vs. Yiadom – Brown wins with a deep catch at the right sideline.
- WR Kevin Austin Jr. vs. CB Jonas Sanker – Sanker disrupts the catch.
- WR Devaughn Vele vs. CB TJ Hall – Ball fell incomplete, good coverage by Hall.
- WR Trey Palmer vs. CB Rejzhon Wright – Wright with the pass breakup.
- WR Ronnie Bell vs. CB Jayden Price – Price with the pass breakup.
- WR Bub Means vs. CB Martin Emerson Jr. – Means catches on the slant.
- WR Jalen Cropper vs. CB Dalys Beanum – Cropper catches off the pivot.
- WR Brock Rechsteiner vs. S Lorenzo Styles Jr. – Rechsteiner reeled in the catch.
- WR Bryce Lance vs. Hall – Hall with the pass breakup.
- Brown vs. Yiadom – Immediate win off the line of scrimmage, but Yiadom recovered and Brown still pulled in the catch over the middle of the field.
- Austin vs. Sanker – Sanker with the pass breakup.
- Vele vs. CB Quincy Riley – Vele with a one-handed catch.
- Palmer vs. Wright – Wright called for defensive pass interference, but there was a lot of contact from both players off the line.
- Bell vs. Styles – Bell with the catch off of a pivot.
- Lance vs. Emerson – Ball falls incomplete.
- Bell vs. Beanum – Beanum with a win here.
- Rechsteiner vs. Price – Rechsteiner with a catch.
- Brown vs. Yiadom – Another Brown reception.
- Bell vs. Styles – Bell with the catch on a hitch.
- Means vs. Hall – Incomplete
- Palmer vs. Wright – Palmer with the catch.
- Lance vs. Price – Price with the pass breakup.
Kicker Competition
It was a busy day for kicker Tanner Brown who not only saw six planned kicks on the day, but also got two extra opportunities with the team’s 2-minute simulation to close practice. All told, he was 7/8 on the day with a miss from 39 yards out. He made three kicks of 50 or more yards on the day. One from 54, another from 56 (now camp’s longest kick) and nailed a 52-yarder in the first two-minute drill.
Charlie Smyth will be back up tomorrow.
Smyth: 15/16 (including one re-kick). Miss from 44. Long of 54.
Brown: 17/19 (including one re-kick). Misses from extra point and 39. Long of 56.
Team Drill Session 1 (Early Down)
- First-and-10
- Second-and-7
- First-and-10
- Second-and-7
Shough
- QB Tyler Shough complete to Olave (Riley in coverage) in the short-left area.
- RB Travis Etienne Jr. run left.
- RB Alvin Kamara run middle, LB Kaden Elliss with a great edge set.
- Shough incomplete to Vele (Riley in coverage) rhythm thrown off by RIley’s contact, ball out of reach at the right sideline.
Rattler
- RB Audric Estime run to the left.
- QB Spencer Rattler complete to Brown (Yiadom in coverage) on a quick pass to the right area of the field.
- Rattler complete to RB Devin Neal (Price in coverage) on a dumpoff to the left side. DL John Ridgeway III with a pressure.
- Neal run to the left.
Wilson
- RB CJ Donaldson run to the right.
- QB Zach Wilson complete to TE Treyton Welch (EDGE Mike Heldman in coverage) on a dumpoff to the left.
- Wilson complete to Means (Beanum in coverage) Wilson stepped up the middle and delivered along the right sideline, great throw.
- RB Ty Chandler run to the left.
Team Session 2 (Up Tempo Progression)
- First-and-10
- Second-and-7
- Third-and-7
- Fourth-and-3
Shough
- Kamara run left.
- Shough complete to Tyson (LB Pete Werner in coverage) middle of the field in the short area.
- Kamara run up middle.
- Shough incomplete to TE Juwan Johnson (McKinstry in coverage) on a short crosser.
Rattler
- Rattler incomplete to TE Oscar Delp (Price in coverage).
- Rattler complete to TE Moliki Matavao open in the middle of the field.
- Neal run up the middle.
- Rattler complete to Delp (Price in coverage) in the right-intermediate area for a first down.
Wilson
- Estime run right.
- Wilson complete to Bell (Hall in coverage) on a quick pass to the right flats.
- Wilson sacked by DL Khristian Boyd.
- Wilson incomplete to Bell (Hall in coverage) pass breakup downfield, Hall shot the hands of Bell as they went up, great coverage.
Team Drill Session 3 (Drive Progression)
- First-and-10
- Second-and-7
- Third-and-7
- First-and-10
- Third-and-9
Shough
- Etienne run middle.
- Shough incomplete to TE Noah Fant in the short-right area, throw low. EDGE Cameron Jordan with pressure.
- Shough complete to Johnson (McKinstry in coverage) for a nice catch and run, good ball here to keep Johnson in stride. Sanker had great pressure here on a blitz up the B-Gap untouched.
- Etienne run middle, DL Vernon Broughton with the stop.
- Shough complete to Tyson, Jordan tipped the ball at the line, but Tyson kept his concentration, reeled in the catch and gained some extra yards.
Rattler (Wright was in at right guard for this series)
- Rattler complete to Delp (S Jordan Howden in coverage) Delp with a diving catch off of play action.
- Estime run middle.
- Rattler complete to Lance (Yiadom in coverage) in the right intermediate area for a first down.
- Rattler complete to Matavao in the short area.
- Rattler complete to Lance (Yiadom in coverage). Rattler scrambled to the right and threw back left to Lance for a big gain across the field. Rattler than sprinted downfield to celebrate with Lance.
Team Drill Session 4 (Drive Progression)
- First-and-10
- Second-and-7
- Third-and-4
- First-and-10
- Third-and-8
Shough (Radunz was in at right guard for this series)
- Kamara run right.
- Shough complete to Johnson (S Julian Blackmon in coverage) in the left flat.
- Kamara run right
- False Start
- Shough complete to Kamara on the right side.
- Shough complete to Olave (Riley in coverage) on the right sideline for a good gain for the first down.
Wilson
- Wilson complete to Palmer (Price in coverage) on a sprint out to the right side.
- Donaldson run up the middle.
- Re-Huddle
- Wilson complete to Means (Wright) at the left sideline.
- Low snap, Wilson runs right.
- Wilson complete to Bell (S Terrell Burgess in coverage) on a quick pass to the left.
Team Drill Session 5 (End of Half 2-Minute Drill, Offense down by three, starting at the minus-35 with one timeout)
Shough
- 1:40, First-and-10 from the minus-35: Shough complete to Tyson (S Justin Reid in coverage) for seven yards.
- 1:18, Second-and-3 from the minus-42: Shough run up the middle for seven yards.
- 0:58, First-and-10 from the plus-44: Shough incomplete to Olave (Sanker in coverage) on the left sideline with a high throw.
- 0:54, First-and-10 from the plus-44: Shough complete to Austin (Blackmon in coverage) for 10 yards.
- 0:39, First-and-10 from the plus-34: Shough incomplete to Etienne.
- 0:35, Second-and-10 from the plus-34: Shough complete to Johnson for six yards.
- Timeout Offense.
- 0:30, Third-and-4 from the plus-29: Shough sacked by Elliss for a loss of six. DL Nathan Shepherd collapsed the pocket, Elliss and EDGE Carl Granderson rushed from the same side on the offensive right.
- 0:07, Fourth-and-10 from the plus-35: Hurry-Up Field Goal, Brown GOOD from 52 yards.
Rattler
- 1:40, First-and-10 from the minus-35: Rattler complete to Estime (EDGE Anfernee Jennings with the stop) for a gain of six.
- 1:34, Second-and-4 from the minus-41: Rattler complete to Brown on the right sideline (Emerson in coverage), Brown picks up 36 with a big run after the catch.
- 1:06, First-and-10 from the plus-23: Estime run up the middle for six yards..
- 0:45, Second-and-4 front he plus-16: Rattler complete to Estime on a swing pass to the right side for a gain of two. Out of bounds to stop the clock.
- 0:37, Third-and-2 from the plus-14: Delay of Game lost five yards.
- 0:37, Third-and-7 from the plus-19: Rattler incomplete to Means (Burgess in coverage) on the right sideline.
- 0:31, Fourth-and-7 from the plus-19: Brown GOOD from 36 yards.
Lagniappe
- P Ryan Wright punt hangtimes: 4.55s, 3.86s, 4.85s, 4.97s, 4.70s, 5.19s, 4.94s, 4.72s, 4.93s, 3.20s, 5.05s
- Punt returners: Brown, Tyson, Cropper, Price and Olave
- Personal Protectors: Chandler and Hall
- It was the hottest day of practice so far, as was evidenced by Olave leaving practice early with heat-related issues.
