Saints Who Need to Step Up Against Chargers

After disappointing starts to camp and against the Chiefs last week, these Saints players are under severe pressure to show something positive against the Chargers.

The New Orleans Saints play their second preseason game when they travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night. Prior to that, the two teams will engage in scrimmages against each other on Thursday and Friday.

As a result of the scrimmages, coaches may elect to play their starters even less than usual in Sunday's game. With three opportunities to showcase themselves against other competition, several players have a chance to put a stranglehold on roster spots or starting positions. 

Still others will have to drastically step up performances that they've displayed in the early parts of training camp or the first preseason contest. Here are the New Orleans players who are perhaps facing the most pressure to make a positive impression to earn roster spots.

Bryan Edwards, WR 

Saints WR Bryan Edwards (11) during a training camp practice. Credit: New Orleans Saints 

Edwards was one of seven wideouts brought in by the Saints this offseason in an effort to upgrade depth behind Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, and Rashid Shaheed. The list includes rookies A.T. Perry and Shaq Davis, James Washington, Keke Coutee, Lynn Bowden Jr., and Jontre Kirklin. Washington and Coutee have already been released. Could Edwards be the next veteran on the chopping block?

A third-round choice by the Raiders in the 2020 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, Edwards has 48 catches for 779 yards and four touchdowns in his three-year career. He played his first two years with Derek Carr before a brief stint with Atlanta last season.

A big wideout at 6'3" and 212-Lbs., it was hoped that Edwards would provide a physical complement to Thomas. Instead, Edwards has been all but invisible in training camp practices. He had three catches for 37 yards against the Chiefs, but has been vastly outplayed by Perry.

With Perry's emergence, Bowden and Kirklin vying for return duties, and the presence of incumbent Tre'Quan Smith, Edwards has a lot of work to do to even be considered for one of the final wideout spots.

Johnathan Abram, S 

New Orleans Saints safety Johnathan Abram (24) works on defensive back drills during training camp. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

Like at receiver, Abram was among several new faces brought in by the Saints at this position. Rookie Jordan Howden and veterans Abram, Lonnie Johnson, and Ugo Amadi are engaged in a close competition with Smoke Monday and J.T. Gray here. Howden, Amadi, and Johnson have already made noticeable impacts, putting the others behind in the battle so far.

A first-round pick by the Raiders in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State, Abram is looking to jump-start a somewhat disappointing career. Carr's Raider teammate for his first four years before finishing 2022 with Seattle, Abram has three career interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and just two seasons with more than 80 tackles (including 8 for loss).

A physical safety at 6-feet and 205-Lbs., Abram is a big hitter but a liability in coverage. He has a similar playing style to former Saints S Malcolm Jenkins, but has failed to make nearly the same type of impact.

Howden is already working with the first team defense in nickle packages. Johnson looks to fill the same role played by P.J. Williams for years. Amadi, who has shown terrific range and aggressiveness, is also a special teams contributor along with Gray. Abram seems to have an uphill battle if he's going to rejuvenate his career in New Orleans.

Zack Baun, LB 

Nov 27, 2022; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) is hit by New Orleans Saints linebacker Zack Baun (53) while throwing a pass. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans traded up to select Baun in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. A special teams standout, Baun has been a poor fit in the Saints defense since converting from a stand-up collegiate defensive end. He's been adequate against the run, but has supplied little pass rush and is a frightening liability in coverage. 

Nevertheless, Baun and second-year LB D'Marco Jackson were the offseason favorites to battle for the third linebacker spot vacated by Kaden Elliss. Jackson has had some nice moments and Baun had three tackles, including a couple of nice run stops, against Kansas City. However, Baun continues to look lost on coverage reps and neither have exhibited consistent play.

As a result of that and a season-ending injury to Andrew Dowell, the Saints signed former Pro Bowl LB Jaylon Smith last week. Smith has the kind of athleticism and versatility that the team values in their linebackers. Jackson has those same traits and has looked far more impactful than Baun during practices. Undrafted second-year LB Nephi Sewell, a converted safety, has also had a standout camp and looks to be making a strong push for a job.

Smith will see his first action as a Saint against the Chargers. Sewell, Jackson, and perhaps even Ty Summers, seem ahead of Baun in their battles. Those spots are by no means assured, but Baun looks to be behind in the race to fill out the linebacker depth chart.

Backup Offensive Line 

Aug 11, 2023; New Orleans Saints tackle Storm Norton (72) works on blocking drills during training camp. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The first team New Orleans offense looked crisp against the Chiefs. That's including an offensive line that provided excellent pass protection and opened holes for the running game. The second and third teamers on offense also did some nice things. However, that was in spite of an inept performance from their offensive line mates. 

New Orleans running backs averaged just 2.8 per carry against the Chiefs. Excluding a 12-yard run by Alvin Kamara with the starting five, then that number plummets to just 2.4. Saints quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Jake Haener were sacked three times, all on Winston, but under constant harassment through the last three quarters. 

New Orleans still has a high-quality starting offensive line in tackles Trevor Penning and Ryan Ramczyk, C Erik McCoy, and guards Cesar Ruiz, Andrus Peat, and James Hurst. However, injuries have battered this unit in recent seasons. Hurst has already been in for an injured Peat during training camp. 

The team thought to have upgraded their depth this offseason. They used a fourth-round draft choice on G/T Nick Saldiveri and signed veteran starters Max Garcia and Storm Norton to go along with Trai Turner, since injured and out for the year. They were expected to add competition for Calvin Throckmorton and Lewis Kidd, each of whom have played fairly well in short stints.

The entire New Orleans line will be tested by Chargers pass rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Saints backups will be under pressure to prove that this unit has quality depth. Garcia and Norton, in particular, turned in disappointing performances against Kansas City. The onus is on this unit to improve rapidly. If not, the Saints may again be desperately scouring the waiver wire for offensive line help after the August 29 cut down date.