Christian Verde/New Orleans Saints
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints open their preseason Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers in their first exhibition matchup. While the quarterbacks will draw the most attention on offense, several young players across the roster will also be worth watching closely. Here’s who to keep an eye on.
Quarterbacks: All of them
Spencer Rattler will get the start with rookie Tyler Shough following up. Both passers are vying for the starting regular season role and the action during this exhibition game is going to further the decision for head coach Kellen Moore.
Third-year passer Jake Haener has a chance to put some good play on tape to further his future opportunities.
Because Hunter Dekkers hasn’t taken a snap during camp, it’s unlikely that he will see any snaps. Not being a part of the install and not seeing reps since OTAs makes it challenging to throw him to the wolves in a preseason game.
Running Backs: Kendre Miller and Velus Jones Jr.
Really, the entire running back room behind Alvin Kamara could be on this list. But of those with the most to gain, Miller and Jones seem to both be best positioned to earn their roles and spots.
Miller wants to show that he can be an impact player despite injuries having slowed his career down thus far. Jones, the most dynamic of the Saints’ rushers, could prove to be an intriguing addition to the team’s rushing unit.
Wide Receivers: Bub Means and Mason Tipton
The top wideouts are set, but Means has a chance to break into one of the final spots on the roster. He’s had a solid trajectory over the last few practices and will be looking to continue that momentum with what should be a lot of opportunity in the preseason.
Tipton, who has again been a training camp star this season, finally gets a chance to bridge camp into the preseason. The Yale wideout missed the preseason last year, but now gets the opportunity to show what’s created the hype around him somewhere other than the practice field.
Tight Ends: Moliki Matavao and Mason Pline
Rookie tight end Matavao has been up and down throughout camp, but one of his strongest calling cards can finally be on display in the preseason: his blocking ability. The Saints’ run game is still one of the team’s biggest remaining question marks. Not because of doubts given head coach Kellen Moore’s track record, but simply because the scheme can only go so far in non-contact practice environments. Matavao is an excellent blocker along with being a big-bodied passing target. He should be able to showcase that a bit more against the Chargers.
Pline is one of the team’s newest additions, making him particularly interesting to watch. His 6-foot-7, 260 pound frame and basketball background make him an immediate fit as a red zone threat. But he has a lot of catching up to do after only joining the team on August 5. This game could help his bid to stick around at least as a practice squad option.
Offensive Line: Kelvin Banks Jr. and Trevor Penning
The left side of the Saints’ offensive line is all new and this game should provide a first glance at its progress. Rookie Banks is a first-time starter immediately out of college. Meanwhile, Penning is getting his first crack at manning the interior of the offensive line.
Assuming both players get at least a few snaps or a couple of drives, this tandem will be a key focal point.
