The New Orleans Saints have arrived on the West Coast and their first order of business is matching up with the Dallas Cowboys for another important joint practice.
As the two sides lock horns in Oxnard, Calif., here are three players that will be firmly on the radar.
WR Barion Brown
With the unfortunate news around rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who is now set to miss the next two months with a hamstring injury, fellow rookie wideout Barion Brown comes into focus.
Receiver Bryce Lance could easily fall on this list too, but Brown’s explosiveness and experience in the slot make him a comfortable fit for the team’s No. 3 role at wide receiver.
He had just begun to crack the first team ahead of the first preseason game. If that continues on Tuesday, he has a massive opportunity to grasp.
He has positional versatility, field-stretching speed and yards after catch ability, which all set him apart and now firmly implants him as an option to move up the position’s ladder with Tyson sideline until possibly October.
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
He’s been able to be out of the spotlight for a little while since no starters participated in the preseason opener, but cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is set to be tested against the Cowboys.
Receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will serve as an important measuring stick for both McKinstry and second-year cornerback Quincy Riley to test their progress and development.
McKinstry fared well against the Jacksonville Jaguars wideouts in their joint practice, outside of the low red zone where the entire defense struggled. Now, he gets to test himself against another talented tandem.
EDGE Mike Heldman
While he isn’t a first-team player, edge rusher Mike Heldman impressed so much during his preseason debut, it’s worth watching not only his performance, but how the Saints deploy him now.
He’s taken a lot of third-team reps over the offseason with edge defenders Tyree Wilson and Anfernee Jennings often holding down second-team responsibilities.
It will be interesting to see if Heldman’s two-sack performance against Jacksonville in the first preseason game allows him to earn some additional exposure.
