By Ross Jackson
Local media was back in attendance during the New Orleans Saints’ fifth practice of OTAs.
There were continued fireworks in the quarterback battle as each passer flashed some big moments. The offensive line remained consistent as the team looks to find its best five, and a few veteran players made their returns.
Here are the notes you need from Thursday’s OTA practice.
Both QBs Show Out During 7-on-7 Reps
Rattler:
- Complete to Kendre Miller. Pete Werner in coverage.
- Complete to Rashid Shaheed with Kool-Aid McKinstry in coverage.
- Complete to Brandin Cooks. Nephi Sewell closest in coverage.
- Complete to Chris Olave with Alontae Taylor in coverage. Play might have been a sack, led to a scramble drill.
Shough:
- Complete to Bub Means down the right sideline. Dallys Beanum in coverage. Touchdown.
- Complete to Mason Tipton with Ugo Amadi.
- Complete to Cedrick Wilson Jr. D’Marco Jackson closest in coverage.
- Complete to Mason Tipton, tight window throw. Dallys Beanum in coverage.
Rattler:
- Complete to Olave. Dallys Beanum in coverage.
- Incomplete to Moliki Matavao, pass broken up by Rejzohn Wright. A little late on the throw.
- Complete to Shaheed. Ugo Amadi in coverage.
- Complete to Michael Jacobson. Elliot Davison and Amadi in coverage.
Shough:
- Complete to Jack Stoll. Great touch pass over linebacker Danny Stutsman on the completion.
- Incomplete to Wilson in scramble drill. Stutsman with tight coverage.
- Complete to Means with Taylor in coverage.
- Complete to Juwan Johnson with Taylor as closest defender.
Rattler:
- Complete to Cooks. D’Marco Jackson in coverage.
- Complete to Johnson with Sewell in coverage. Great patience by Rattler to wait for the play to fully develop.
- Complete to Shaheed between Jonas Sanker (over top) and Amadi (underneath). Great placement between the two defenders.
- Incomplete to Shaheed deep. Beanum in coverage.
Shough:
- Complete down the left sideline on another vertical route. Wright in coverage. Touchdown.
- Complete to Stoll in the right flat area. Isaac Yiadom in coverage.
- Incomplete to Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the flats left with Terrell Burgess and Danny Stutsman in coverage.
- Intercepted by Wright on a diving effort. Tipton was the target over the middle of the field. The throw was a touch late, and Wright made a great play on the ball.
#Saints Tyler Shough came to play today.
2 big TDs on vertical routes to Bub Means and Donovan Peoples-Jones. Had another great touch pass to Jack Stoll over the top of Danny Stutsman.
Rejzohn Wright picked off his final pass. A crosser that was a touch late to Mason Tipton.
— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) May 29, 2025
Passing Stats
Rattler went 10/12 on his attempts.
Shough went 9/12 with two touchdowns and an interception on his attempts.
Trevor Penning Stays At Left Guard
The Saints didn’t shake up their offensive line from last week. Rookie Kelvin Banks Jr. remained at left tackle with Taliese Fuaga on the right. Center Erik McCoy and right guard Cesar Ruiz stayed in their assured spots as well, leaving Penning to continue at left guard. Not seeing him rotating with any of the other options like Dillon Radunz, Will Clapp or Nick Saldiveri looks to be a good sign.
“He’s done an excellent job,” head coach Kellen Moore said after practice. “The transition is never, never easy for anyone. And so, the more reps you get at that spot, the more comfortable you’re going to be.”
Chase Young Looks Comfortable
After a big contract extension with the Saints, Young is one of the most impactful players on the defensive side of the ball this year. His fit with defensive coordinator Brandon Staley looks to be a comfortable one. He showed off his speed and athleticism with some nice moments including getting in the face of Rattler at one point during some team walkthroughs and batted down his pass.
Despite the walkthrough environment, Young was playing hard. He had some solid moments dropping back in coverage during 7-on-7s as well. That’s something the standup pass rushers will have to be comfortable with from time to time in the new defense.
Bub Means’ Stock Rising
The second-year wide receiver is carving out a role for himself. Whether in the short/intermediate area or downfield, he’s forced my eyes away from plays even when he hasn’t been targeted. Today, the big play down the left sideline from Shough caught a lot of attention. But it was more than the throw and catch that were impressive.
Means won immediately off of the line of scrimmage with a great release. Once he then took over the leverage at the top of the route, he did a great job stacking over the top of Beanum, allowing himself to force natural separation. This was a display of using leverage to control a route. Means is making discernible progress as a route-runner already.
At 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, if Means is on the field more in 2025, it’s a good thing for New Orleans in both the passing and running game.
Attendance During Media Portion
The players that were not seen:
TE Taysom Hill, S Tyrann Mathieu, RB Alvin Kamara, LB Isaiah Stalbird, S J.T. Gray, LB Demario Davis, DT Bryan Bresee, DT Davon Godchaux, DT Nathan Shepherd and DE Cam Jordan
The players that were present but were working on the side:
QB Jake Haener, CB Quincy Riley, TE Dallin Holker, TE Foster Moreau
