While managing some key injuries, the New Orleans Saints will be relying on some new faces to contribute in major roles when they take on the Las Vegas Raiders in Sunday’s home opener.
While those names are familiar to Saints fans, they’ll be mostly considered unheralded elsewhere. But their impact in this matchup could change that.
CB Jayden Price
With wide receiver Barion Brown ruled out with a hamstring injury, cornerback Jayden Price is likely to be leaned on to help in the return game. Price has been working as the team’s backup STAR/slot defender behind safety Jonas Sanker. He enjoyed a standout camp playing at the position, but it’s his other speciality that will be called upon against Las Vegas.
Price finished No. 2 in punt return yards (197) during the 2025 spring season and also finished top-10 in kick return yards. He also had five punt return touchdowns as the primary returner at North Dakota State.
Brown’s 53-yard kick return in Week 2 was a critical one in awakening the Saints’ scoring efforts right before the half. This week, it could be up to Price and his kick return colleague (listed as rookie wideout Bryce Lance on the team’s depth chart) to help win the hidden yardage game.
LB Pete Werner
Since moving to the middle of the defense, linebacker Pete Werner has taken on new life in the second level. In Week 2, his playmaking abilities were expanded as a blitzer, one of his best collegiate assets that hadn’t been tapped into much since being drafted in 2021. He’s also piled up six run stops, making his presence known in the run game.
Against Vegas running back Asthon Jeanty, Werner’s ability to read and react quickly can be an important asset Sunday afternoon.
OL Asim Richards
With starting left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. sidelined for the foreseeable future, it will be backup tackle Asim Richards tasked with keeping quarterback Tyler Shough’s blindside protected. While he won’t draw matchups with Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby as much as fellow tackle Taliese Fuaga. But when he does, it will be an important battle to watch.
