Saints Rookie Talks First NFL Start, Tough Loss To Packers

Safety Jordan Howden's first start was a heartbreaker, but his solid play and confidence stood out among the positives.

GREEN BAY — It most certainly was not the starting debut he had hoped for but New Orleans Saints rookie safety Jordan Howden held his own throughout the team's heartbreaking 17-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Howden has stepped into his expanded role while safety Marcus Maye serves his three-game suspension. With his first start now in the books, he shared a bit about what it was like and how he hopes to grow going into next week.

The Saints had a ton of confidence in Howden going into the game, and that set him up for success from the get-go. "I felt very confident going out there," he said. "And I think I put everything out there from the start, from the beginning. Obviously, we didn't come up with win, but still proud of the team that we fought from the beginning today."

Howden finished the game with 4 combined tackles, one of which a solo stop. But he felt that there was more he could have done. "I left some plays out there," he said. "But I will say that I gave everything that I had and next time that you're going to be better and be able to execute a better I did today."

Sep 24, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (88) gets a first down reception against New Orleans Saints safety Jordan Howden (31) during the second half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports

Howden did surrender a lone reception in the game as the closest defender. The pass was a 12-yard out to Packers tight end Luke Musgrave on a third and 6 deep in Green Bay territory. On the play, Howden was lined up as an underneath defender in a three-deep coverage situation. He broke on the ball with good anticipation as Musgrave broke out of his vertical stem toward the sideline. As Packers quarterback Jordan Love got the pass out, the safety looked to be in excellent position, but was maybe a half-step behind a pass break up or maybe even a takeaway.

Game speed and anticipation are big factors in the transition from college to the NFL, but as a whole Howden managed them well beyond this single play. Overall, the play did not lead to much at all for Green Bay as they would turn the ball over on towns later in the drive. Beyond that drive, the young safety defended well and consistently took away deep options in the Packers passing game. But that was not enough for Howden. He will be looking to turn opportunities into game-changing moments in his next game.

When I asked Howden about what his focus is on heading into next week, he made it clear that he wants to be a game changer for the Saints' defense. "That one yard can change a play," he said. "Being in the right spot, I feel like I can change a game or a play. To force a turnover or to make a fourth down stop... I feel like those little details matter, no matter what down."

As for Howden's thoughts on the overall result of the game as opposed to his individual performance, it was a frustrating loss, but the team plans to respond next moving forward. "we just didn't execute in the second half," he said. "And that starts from the line into the secondary. As a whole, we got to play better. And that's what we got next week for."