2023 New Orleans Saints Training Camp Preview
Outlook on Impactful Players
New Orleans, LA- With football season on the horizon and training camps getting ready to ramp up for teams across the country, players are eager for their opportunity to show out and prove they belong on an NFL roster.
As for the New Orleans Saints, this period will answer many questions about the current state of the roster after gaining new offseason additions and having players return from injuries. The coaching staff and fans are always searching for players to bring a competitive edge to their play, and those on the roster are looking to do no different.
Playmaking, availability, and impactful performance are critical for successful results throughout the NFL’s regular season. While rookies and bubble players fight for final roster spots through training camps and preseason games, veteran leaders look to sharpen their skills and give their teams any possible advantage.
Here are the five players whose performance on and off the field could have crucial implications for the Saints’ 2023 season:
Alvin Kamara, RB
As of last week, Kamara has officially pleaded “no contest” for his involvement in a 2022 Las Vegas fight the night before the Pro Bowl. The Saints and star running back now await the NFL’s decision on whether to enact a suspension. Should a suspension be handed down, the concern becomes the number of games the team will be without Kamara. Even though the All-Pro back’s numbers last season were down from his usual production, the main concern for 2023 looms large with availability questions.
Michael Thomas, WR
You can’t win football games if you aren’t on the field. This sentiment stands strong when speaking about Thomas. The stud receiver has not played a complete season of football since 2019. Thomas has only appeared in 10 games since 2020, missing the 2021 season entirely. Nagging toe and ankle injuries have hampered the wideout recently, but a healthy year could lead to big production in the passing game.
Wil Lutz, K
Special teams are one area the Saints have had success with recently. However, Lutz, like Thomas, sat out the 2021 campaign with a core muscle injury. The kicker returned from injury in 2022 but played into a sub-par season. Lutz went just 23/31 on field goal attempts, only hitting 74.2%. These numbers are not typical of him, but you would love for Lutz to get back over the 80-85% mark he’s capable of if you’re a Saints fan. The Saints played a part in 11 games last season decided by one score; they lost six. A reliable kicking game may win them a few more close ones in 2023.
Cam Jordan, DE
A true ironman, Jordan, has been a cornerstone for the Saints' defense for years. Cam will head into his 13th season and serve as a leader for the young defensive line. The franchise’s all-time leader in sacks is aging, having just made 34. Earning just 8.5 sacks in 2022, Jordan will be hungry to get after the QB this season. How long will he be able to sustain high-level production? Will he begin to regress at all? Although the team ranked fourth in the league with 48 sacks, defensive ends were responsible for less than half of those. Getting in the backfield should help the team gain momentum even without possessing the ball.
Everybody, Offensive Line
The Saints have always had great offensive production in the running and passing games. That all has to start up front with the men in the trenches, and unfortunately, that has been a position group constantly plagued with injuries. A deep rotation of linemen will help keep the new quarterback, Derek Carr, on his feet rather than on his back. Training camp will allow the coaching staff opportunities to see improvement in young players like Trevor Penning, Nick Saldiveri, and Mark Evans II. Whoever winds up on the Saints’ final 53-man roster will have to play smart and stay healthy if they want any chance of finding success in 2023.
The New Orleans Saints have scheduled to begin their training camp on Wednesday, July 26th. They will hold seven open practices available to the public. The dates of those practices are:
Friday, July 28th) 9-11:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 29th) 9-11 a.m.
Monday, July 31st) 9-11 a.m.
Friday, August 4th) 9-11 a.m.
Saturday, August 5th) 9-11 a.m.
Sunday, August 6th) 9-11 a.m.
Thursday, August 10th) 9-11:30 a.m.
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