5 Takeaways from Saints' Preseason Week 2

Jason Watson Jr • August 23, 2023

Another preseason game is complete for the Saints’ 2023 campaign following a 22-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Saints will return to New Orleans with a 2-0 record with a lot to break down after the team showed flashes of success but plenty of immaturity. Let’s take a look at five things we learned in the past game:

Penalties Have got to be Cut Down

The Saints finished the game with 14 penalties found on offense, defense, and special teams, equating to an inexcusable 141 yards given up. The 14 infractions rank as the most by any team in a single game this preseason. While many of the starters did not participate in this one, it is still a troubling case Dennis Allen will look to address with his group.

How Many Receivers Will the Saints Keep?

Between the first two weeks of the preseason, the Saints have had several young guys make plays from the receiving core who are battling for roster spots. Shaquan Davis and former LSU Tiger Jontre Kirklin both hauled in 3 receptions against the Chargers, each gaining 63 and 59 yards. Additionally, A.T. Perry’s six receptions, 70 yards, and one touchdown performance stood out from week 1. The younger players will complement nicely with veterans like Michael Thomas, Chis Olave, and Rashid Shaheed, all to make Derek Carr’s life easier.

Isaiah Foskey Struggling Early On

New Orleans drafted the Notre Dame defensive end in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft, making him the 40th player taken overall. The hope is for the rookie edge rusher to make an impact in the rotation and aid Cameron Jordan’s pressure on opposing quarterbacks. However, Foskey has not looked hot through training camps and practices. He has also failed to have an impactful performance in his preseason reps, only assisting on one tackle versus Los Angeles. There is still plenty of time in the young DE’s learning curve, but many are hopeful he can take off sooner rather than later.

A True Position Battle at Kicker

After finishing near dead last in field goal makes percentage (74.2%; 23/31) amongst those with 20+ attempts, Wil Lutz is facing some steep competition this offseason. Rookie kicker Blake Grupe came to camp to push Lutz toward his best; it has worked wonders. Against the Chargers, Allen had Grupe play the first half and Lutz the second. Grupe looked strong as he knocked through his two FG attempts and drove through the lone XP for the Saints. Lutz answered the call right back by going 3/3 in his FGA and had a long make of 51 yards. Lutz has performed well enough to keep his role but watch for Grupe to garner interest from other NFL clubs soon.

Wait. What? Another Turnover?

Yes, three of them, to be exact. After ranking 31st last season in forced takeaways, Dennis Allen has been vocal and harping on turnovers being a point of focus for the upcoming season. The Saints responded with one recovery off two forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions from Isaac Yiadom and Lonnie Johnson Jr. The defense shows intensity and tenacity in getting after the football, a promising sign of things to come in 2023.



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Football player in red kicks as teammate kneels on field during game, crowd blurred in background
By Patrick Harkness August 20, 2026
K 
Jackson Courville- Ohio State 
He committed on January 12, 2026 (after entering the portal January 2) and is now on Tulane’s 2026 roster as a redshirt junior (#96, 5’10”, 185 lbs) from Centerville, OH (Centerville HS). 
Here’s why Courville aligns so well with the Green Wave program: 
• Proven Leg Strength and Clutch MAC Production
: In two seasons as Ball State’s starting kicker (2023-24), he went 26-of-34 on field goals (76.5%) and 54-of-56 on extra points. Highlights include a game-winning 52-yard FG as time expired vs. Northern Illinois (2024), his career long, plus multiple makes from 50+ yards. He was automatic inside 40 yards and showed the power and accuracy Tulane needs after the departure of standout Patrick Durkin. 
• P4 Experience and Fresh Start
: After battling for the job at Ohio State in 2025 (limited to just 4 XPs in one appearance), he brings valuable Big Ten reps and camp competition experience. Now at Tulane, he’s locked in a competitive spring battle with Cooper Helmke and Zach Marini. 
• Immediate Depth and Competition in a Reloading Unit
: Tulane aggressively addressed special teams via the portal after losing Durkin. Courville arrives as a high-upside veteran with two years of eligibility left, ready to compete for the starting job and provide reliable kicking depth right away. 
In short, Jackson Courville is a smart, high-character portal pickup who brings proven production, big-leg power, and built-in chemistry with the offense to a position group that needed reinforcements. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
Dagan Bruno football player in teal helmet, number 14, during action pose with name and stats graphic.
By Patrick Harkness August 20, 2026
Dagan Bruno: The Local Walk-On Made Some Noise in Tulane’s Quarterback Room during Spring Camp Dagan Bruno is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound redshirt sophomore quarterback wearing No. 14 for the Tulane Green Wave. A Preferred Walk-On from New Orleans and John Curtis Christian School, the hometown product has steadily transformed from scout-team specialist into a legitimate competitor in the quarterback room under head coach Will Hall. Bruno arrived at Tulane as a late addition to the 2024 class after a standout multi-sport career at John Curtis. As a junior in 2022, he helped lead the Patriots to a Division I Select state championship and was named the most outstanding player in the title game. In his senior season he completed over 72 percent of his passes for 1,504 yards with 13 touchdowns and just one interception while adding 527 rushing yards and eight scores. A true three-sport athlete who also excelled in basketball and baseball, Bruno maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school. At Tulane he redshirted in 2024 and spent the bulk of his first two seasons running the scout-team offense, particularly the triple-option looks used by Army and Navy. His experience in John Curtis’s split-back veer made him uniquely valuable in preparing the defense. Playing time was limited, and the lack of consistent reps tested his confidence. Everything changed in spring 2026. Bruno forced his way into the conversation with accurate, decisive play. In the final spring scrimmage he went 5-of-5 for 69 yards, capping the day with a perfect 40-yard touchdown strike down the sideline to Antwaun Parham. Coach Will Hall was emphatic in his praise: “You can win with Dagan Bruno. This is not some feel-good story anymore… Dagan can play. I love his competitive spirit. He’s a tough guy, a winner and a leader.” Bruno has made it clear he wants to shed the “option quarterback” label. “A lot of people tried to push me into being the option quarterback guy,” he said. “I’m trying to break away from that a little bit and become a real quarterback that can go out there and throw the ball around, make the right checks and just do everything right.” Heading into fall camp and the 2026 season, Bruno sits in a competitive four-man race alongside Zeon Chriss-Gremillion, Kadin Semonza, and true freshman Trace Johnson. While the early days of camp have been a mixed bag for him after his strong spring, his accuracy, athleticism, toughness, and local knowledge continue to make him a valuable piece of the room. Whether he earns the starting job, serves as a key backup, or provides package plays, the John Curtis product has already proven he belongs. For a preferred walk-on who stayed home and kept working when the spotlight was elsewhere, Dagan Bruno’s rise is a classic New Orleans football story, one that Green Wave fans should watch closely. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
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