Full Breakdown
Saints-Jaguars Preseason Opener: Starters Rested, Joint Practice Takes Center Stage
8/12/2026, 10:34:46 PM
Core Event
The New Orleans Saints will open their preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Caesars Superdome on Saturday. Both head coaches—Saints Kellen Moore and Jaguars Liam Coen—have said most starters will sit out, using Thursday’s joint practice as the primary evaluation opportunity.
Background & Context
Preseason games let teams assess rookies, backups, and roster-bubble players. This season the Saints and Jaguars will hold a joint practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie before the exhibition matchup.
Coaches’ Rationale
Moore plans to give his starters “really good work” during the joint session and then keep them off the field for Saturday. Both coaches view the practice as a chance to gauge depth and make cuts before the regular season.
Key Player Availability
- Quarterback Tyler Shough is expected to lead the Saints’ offense in practice but may not snap on Saturday.
- Quarterback Trevor Lawrence will focus on “game-like reps” in the joint practice and is not counting on playing in the opener.
- Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski will call the Jaguars’ plays for Saturday, showcasing his play-calling.
Implications for Roster Decisions
With starters limited, the Saturday contest becomes a showcase for younger talent. Rookies such as Jordyn Tyson, Barion Brown, Bryce Lance, and defensive prospect Montaric Brown (Jaguars) will receive live-game reps. Performance in the practice and the preseason game will influence the final 53-man rosters.
Official Statements & Responses
Moore told reporters the joint practice will reveal “where our numbers are,” after which staff will decide who is available Saturday. Coen said the practice is a “controlled environment” that offers “physical work,” allowing the Jaguars to evaluate younger players without exposing starters to full-game contact. Lawrence described his focus as taking each day “one at a time,” using the joint practice for valuable “game reps.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Yeah, we'll get through this joint practice, and then we'll kind of see where our numbers are,” — Kellen Moore
- “Honestly, we had a personnel meeting the other day, yesterday, and it’s still so early. I think we'll have a better idea after this joint, after this game. That's usually when you try to have a little bit of that in terms of you guys have all seen maybe some of the younger guys in their own way stand out here,” — Liam Coen
- “No. Not in Week 1, for sure,” — Liam Coen
- “I think more than anything, I'm excited to see these guys go out and compete against somebody else,” — Grant Udinski
- “Our defense honestly has given us some really good looks. They've added some stuff since last year that they're playing coverage a little bit differently, and then they're showing some things and then they're bluffing out. And so, they're challenging us, which is really good for us,” — Trevor Lawrence
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No definitive roster list has been released, and injury updates for players such as offensive lineman Dillon Radunz (knee) remain unconfirmed.
What’s Next
The joint practice on Thursday will be the first of three sessions between the teams. After the preseason opener, both clubs will continue evaluating players in games against the Los Angeles Rams (Saturday, Aug. 22) and the Dallas Cowboys (Friday, Aug. 28) before finalizing their rosters.
