The New Orleans Saints’ first-team offense again failed to separate from the starting defense on Wednesday, and Tyler Shough’s night ended with four straight missed throws after an early spark. He opened practice by completing his first two passes, then went 0-for-4 the rest of the way as the unit never found a clean rhythm.
That is why Zach Wilson remains a search term around this camp, even with Shough taking the snaps in the latest practice. The Saints held the workout indoors at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, La., after the pads came off, and the session lasted a little less than 90 minutes. It came one day before Thursday’s joint practice against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the next chance to see whether the offense can look sharper against a different defense and under a little more pressure.
Kellen Moore did not hide the concern. Asked about the offense, he said, “It definitely needs to get there,” and added that it is “training camp, it’s a work in progress. We need to play more consistent football and we have to get there. That’s what this time of year is about.” The numbers back up the frustration. The first-team offense has now been held in check for the 11th straight Saints training camp practice, a stretch that has kept the group from building the kind of momentum an offense usually wants before the season starts.
Shough’s misses told the story. Chris Olave was targeted on two of them, including a deep shot into double coverage and a slant that glanced off his hands. The rush had time to matter too, with Carl Granderson, Chase Young, Nathan Shepherd and Khristian Boyd affecting plays along the way. The first-team offense got no breathing room on its final four snaps in the red zone, and the drive ended with a Chase Young sack. For a unit that is supposed to be a source of optimism, it has instead spent 11 practices looking for a footing it still does not fully have.
The absence list only sharpened the focus on what was available. Kendre Miller, Devin Neal, Devaughn Vele, Mason Tipton, Davon Godchaux, John Ridgeway, Chris Rumph and Rejzohn Wright were not present Wednesday, leaving the offense and defense to sort through a lighter indoor session with less than a week before the next public test. Bryce Lance has also stood out because he has kept getting open enough to stay visible in a crowded camp, a sign that timing and separation are starting to matter as much as raw reps. The Saints still have three sets of joint practices and three preseason games left, but Thursday in Jacksonville is the first chance to see whether Shough and the offense can turn one decent start into a sustained series of answers.
