NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The New Orleans Saints will finally play another team Saturday, but fans hoping for an extended look at Tyler Shough and the first-team offense may have to wait.
Coach Kellen Moore said Wednesday he expects most of the Saints’ starters to sit when New Orleans opens its preseason schedule against the Jacksonville Jaguars at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Caesars Superdome.
Instead, the Saints plan to give their starters extensive work Thursday when they hold a joint practice with Jacksonville in Metairie. The session will essentially serve as the preseason game for the first-team units, allowing them to get competitive reps against the Jaguars while limiting their exposure in Saturday’s game.
That shifts the focus of the preseason opener toward players fighting for jobs, beginning at quarterback.
Shough enters his second NFL season as the established starter after taking over during the second half of 2025 and starting the Saints’ final nine games. Behind him, Spencer Rattler and veteran Zach Wilson are competing for the backup job. The Saints said when Wilson signed in March that he would compete with Rattler for the No. 2 position.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) runs through drills during their NFL football training camp in Metairie, La., Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)(Gerald Herbert | AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
If Shough sits as expected, Saturday could provide the longest game-action evaluation yet of that competition.
Rattler has worked primarily with the second-team offense during camp, while Wilson has taken third-team snaps. Both quarterbacks have had uneven stretches, with the Saints’ defense controlling portions of recent practices. On Tuesday, Rattler completed 7 of 9 passes with an interception during team work, while Wilson went 9 of 15 without a turnover.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Zach Wilson (4) gets ready for a play during an NFL football training camp in Metairie, La., Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)(Ella Hall | AP Photo/Ella Hall)Young receivers get their chance
The Saints’ young receiving corps could be another group to watch closely.
Competition will quickly get fierce behind Chris Olave, Jordyn Tyson and Devaughn Vele, with Barion Brown, Kevin Austin Jr. and rookie Bryce Lance among the players vying for roles in the rotation.
Brown has produced several big plays during camp, while Lance caught a touchdown from Rattler during practice after earlier being targeted on a pass broken up by Isaac Yiadom.
With veteran starters likely watching from the sideline, Saturday should provide considerably more snaps for that group to make its case.
Offensive line depth under the microscope
The offensive line also remains a focus as Moore experiments with combinations behind the projected starters.
New Orleans struggled to consistently run the football last season, finishing 28th in the NFL at 94.3 rushing yards per game and averaging 3.7 yards per carry. The Saints have shuffled players along the line during camp, including giving Cesar Ruiz work at center behind Erik McCoy.
Saturday’s game should give the coaching staff its first extended look at how the reserve offensive line handles a live game, particularly when protecting Rattler and Wilson and opening lanes for the running backs further down the depth chart.
Jacksonville is taking a similar approach. Jaguars coach Liam Coen also is expected to hold out most veterans and starters after the teams work against each other Thursday, putting even more emphasis on roster evaluation during the preseason game.
For Moore and the Saints, that makes the final score secondary.
Saturday is the first of three preseason games before New Orleans opens the regular season Sept. 13 at Detroit. The Saints travel to face the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 22 before closing the preseason Aug. 28 at Dallas.
Kickoff against Jacksonville is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Caesars Superdome. The game will be broadcast through Gray Media, including the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network (GCSEN). Check your local listings for channel availability.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.
Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.
Copyright 2026 WVUE. All rights reserved.