NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The New Orleans Saints opened their mandatory mini-camp Tuesday, with fans crowding the practice fields for their first look at the team under new head coach Kellen Moore.
This week’s sessions are one of the few chances fans will get to watch the team up close before the regular season. Tickets to attend were free but sold out quickly, with demand surging to see Moore’s debut and the team’s rookie class in action.
Much of the attention will be on the quarterback position, where rookies Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler are competing for the vacant starting job left by Derek Carr’s retirement.
Moore praised his young quarterbacks, calling them “really smart football players” with high capacity.
Rattler went 11 for 15 with an interception. His best throw was a 20-yard wheel route to Xazavian Valladay. He was picked off by rookie Jonas Sanker.
Shough went 12 for 16. His best throws were a corner route to Rashid Shaheed and a deep sail to Mason Tipton.
“They’re throwing it well out here,” he said. “They all are on the younger side from an experience standpoint, but they’re hungry and they’re ready.”
He added that the coaching staff focused Tuesday on helping them understand situational differences between second, third, and fourth down decision-making.
Moore said the New Orleans heat was part of the plan for day one of mini-camp, with the team using the conditions to help test focus, conditioning, and execution.
“It was a good thing for us,” Moore said. “We’ve got to stress ourselves in a lot of different ways during the offseason, and the heat was a big part of that.”
Moore said Taysom Hill has been impressive in his offseason recovery, though no clear timetable for his return to full contact has been established.
“It’s a challenging offseason for him just from a medical standpoint,” Moore said. “He’s done everything you could possibly do to put yourself in a good position to be successful moving forward.”
Star veterans like Alvin Kamara and Tyrann Mathieu were full participants Tuesday, and Moore said their presence is invaluable for the team’s younger players.
“Young guys learn from the veterans,” Moore said. “When you see those guys come out here and work their tails off and do everything you ask, that shows up throughout the entire team.”
Moore confirmed that running back Cam Akers, who is trying out for a roster spot, has been making a good impression.
“He’s an experienced player in this league,” Moore said. “He’s done a nice job, and I’m fortunate he came out here to compete.”
Gates open again Wednesday at 11 a.m., with practice starting at 11:50. Free public parking is available at the Shrine on Airline.
ALSO: The Saints placed veteran offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk on the reserve/retired list, making his retirement official after multiple knee surgeries. Ramczyk had been a key piece of the offensive line since being drafted in 2017.
Catch Up: Don’t miss our latest Fox 8 Overtime podcast, where Sean Fazende and Andre Johnson Jr. debate if Jameis Winston could be a good mentor for the Saints’ young QBs, and whether the team should pursue free agents Gabe Davis or Jaire Alexander.
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