New Orleans Saints football is back as the preseason officially gets under way with their inaugural exhibition game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
During the game, a number of players will be in position to boost their stock, earn or role or, in some rare occurrences, fight for a roster spot.
Here are five players that are among those with the most to gain in Saturday’s preseason opener.
QB Spencer Rattler
Third-year quarterback Spencer Rattler will get the start against Jacksonville with Zach Wilson and Hunter Dekkers expected to also see action at some point in the matchup.
For Rattler, who has been impressive throughout camp, this is an opportunity for him to solidify his role as the team’s primary backup quarterback but also put on display the development that’s been evident on the practice field.
Rattler can put himself on the radar of quarterback-needy teams this weekend while further solidifying his place as the guy in New Orleans.
WR Kevin Austin Jr.
The unheralded contributor of the wide receiver room, Kevin Austin Jr. is known for his willingness to contribute in every way he’s asked at the position.
After catching his first career touchdown last year, Austin’s confidence and growth have been evident in training camp.
In the preseason opener, he should see a lot of action with a chance to potentially earn some early exposure in the regular season depending on the recovery approach the team takes with rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson.
EDGE Fadil Diggs
2025 seventh-rounder Fadil Diggs has shown some growth as well over the course of training camp and now should see a lot of playing time over the course of the game against Jacksonville.
An athletic and speedy pass rusher, Diggs spent his rookie year developing in the practice squad. He’s had some stand out flashes here and there in practice.
Now, facing a live-tackling environment, those flashes can turn into big plays that could help to boost his trajectory.
RB Audric Estime
With running backs Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne Jr. unlikely to see playing time and another pair of backs hurt, Audric Estime stands to see a lot of opportunity against the Jaguars.
He has an exciting end to the 2025 season, now as the preseason opens, he, Ty Chandler and CJ Donaldson may be the only three running backs active Saturday.
This could serve as an opportunity to earn his roster spot as an available and productive running back.
K Charlie Smith
It could be argued that kicker Tanner Brown technically has more to earn because he’s entering the battle for the position without having been the team’s starting kicker before.
However, it’s the fact that Irish boot Charlie Smyth is the incumbent that lands him on the list. Smyth has both the most to gain and most to lose out of the pairing.
Head Coach Kellen Moore said that the team will try to alternate the two kickers by kick, with adjustments possibly necessary to keep the workload evened out.
That means both legs will get some important work on Saturday. For Smyth, who had a strong kicking performance in the team’s joint practice, this is an opportunity to continue holding on to his starting role as the preseason begins.
