Saints Anticipate Full Attendance to Start Training Camp

Despite several New Orleans Saints landing on offseason injury lists, head coach Dennis Allen expects full attendance to start camp. But to what degree?

Going into the veteran reporting date for the New Orleans Saints, head coach Dennis Allen shared some good news about the team's availability to start training camp on Tuesday. Despite starting the week with six players given either the Non-Football Injury (NFI) or Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) designations, the anticipation is that every rostered player will be available to start camp. But whether or not they will all be full participants is not as clear.

Jul 28, 2022; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) runs during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

"We're finishing up with the physicals right now," Allen said in his opening statement on Tuesday. "I can't give you a full list of who will or won't participate. But my anticipation is that we'll have everybody available to participate in some form or fashion at practice tomorrow. I think that's a good start."

A good start indeed, but the standout clause in that statement is "in some form or fashion." So before anyone gets their hopes up too much, it is worth considering what that could mean. On Monday afternoon, it was announced that four players from the NFI or PUP list had passed their physicals. The last remaining names on either list are wide receiver A.T. Perry and cornerback Anthony Johnson. Taking Allen's statement at face value would suggest that both players are expected to pass their physicals in the coming day or so. 

Jun 13, 2023; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) looks on during minicamp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

On the other hand, this bodes well for players like wide receiver Michael Thomas and running back Kendre Miller, both of which are expected to be ready to go on Wednesday. Allen himself confirmed such expectations for Thomas.

But one of the other moving targets to watch in all of this is the offensive line. While left guard Andrus Peat made his appearances during mandatory minicamp, right guard Cesar Ruiz and left tackle Trevor Penning did not participate. 

Regarding the interior, Allen did say that the recent additions of guards Trai Turner and Max Garcia were not connected to the health of Ruiz and Peat, but that does not necessarily indicate that Ruiz will be ready to go fully for camp. The expectation has always been that Penning will be ready to go. But again, at what capacity remains to be seen.

There is a chance that players will be present and participating at a lighter capacity than others, but that would still be a good sign for New Orleans and its roster health.