Saints Open Week 3 Prep with Injury Updates and Shough's Confidence High
New Orleans began practice for Sunday's home opener against Las Vegas, coming off a 24-17 win over Baltimore. Quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 252 yards and a touchdown in that victory, while several defensive and offensive players were limited or absent from Wednesday's session. Coach Kellen Moore offered little detail on the injuries, including rookie receiver Barion Brown's hamstring issue.
Wednesday's session saw three Saints players sidelined entirely: rookie receiver Barion Brown (hamstring), cornerback Martin Emerson (shoulder), and rookie defensive lineman Christen Miller (toe). Coach Kellen Moore confirmed Brown's injury stemmed from Sunday's win over Baltimore but declined to offer a recovery timeline. Limited participants included defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd, safety Jonas Sanker, and edge rusher Chase Young, while linebacker Isaiah Stalbird practiced fully.
Shough's 662 passing yards through two games represent the franchise's best opening stretch since Drew Brees' 669 in 2009. The Saints rank seventh in total offense, averaging 305.5 passing yards per contest. Sunday's matchup against the undefeated Raiders—winners over Miami and Los Angeles—offers New Orleans a chance to climb above .500 for the first time since September 2024, when a 2-0 start preceded a seven-game losing streak.
This home opener carries weight beyond the standings for a city where the Saints serve as a cultural touchstone. A victory could galvanize local morale and reinforce faith in the team's direction after last season's 5-12 finish, the franchise's worst since 2005. The expected crowd of 73,000 also signals economic and communal energy around the Superdome. However, defensive injuries may temper optimism, and a loss could revive doubts about whether this early offensive success is sustainable against stronger competition.