The 2026 NFL training camps have kicked off around the league, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The New Orleans Saints' camp is taking place in Metairie, Louisiana, and Saints reporter Katherine Terrell has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and of course the quarterback room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at Saints camp. We will update this file often. Kellen Moore enters his second season as head coach, and expectations are higher after Tyler Shough impressed while starting the final nine games of the 2025 campaign. Who are the breakout players to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Dive in to all the updates and be sure to check back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins Aug. 13.
Camp updates for all 32 NFL teams
Latest news from Saints camp
Saints starting DT Bryan Bresee to have season-ending ACL surgery
The legacy of Taysom Hill in New Orleans: 'There's only one'
Versatile Taysom Hill not returning to Saints for 10th season
Saints enter camp with faith in Tyler Shough, questions on defense
Sunday, Aug. 2
The Saints' defense had a solid showing in a day that involved a lot of 11-on-11 red zone work. It specifically shined in the final period of the day. Linebacker Pete Werner punched the ball out of running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s hands after he caught a pass from Tyler Shough; safety Jonas Sanker blitzed and had a pressure to force an incompletion; and Chase Young had a pressure on an end zone interception from Shough that was caught by Julian Blackmon.
On the first play of team drills, Shough made a nice downfield throw from the Saints' 35-yard line to Chris Olave in the end zone, but it was hard to tell if Olave, working against Quincy Riley, came down with the ball in bounds.
More observations from the day:
The Saints practiced in their indoor facility because of a rainstorm, so practice was closed to fans.
Saints coach Kellen Moore said defensive tackle Bryan Bresee will have surgery for a torn ACL.
Tanner Brown rotated in as kicker and went 5-for-5 in field goals. So far he has missed one field goal in camp and Charlie Smyth has missed none.
Shough was knocked to the ground at one point in 11-on-11 drills, marking the second time this has happened in the first week of practice despite his red noncontact jersey.
Cesar Ruiz and Ja'Lynn Polk were excused absences again. Ruiz recently posted on social media that he and his wife welcomed their first child.
Edge rusher Michael Heldman, who signed with the Saints as a UDFA, had a nice series with the third team where he had two pressures on Zach Wilson in four plays, including one where the ball fell incomplete.
Rookie wideout Bryce Lance had back-to-back touchdowns while working with Spencer Rattler and the second team in 7-on-7s.
#Saints guard Cesar Ruiz joins the fatherhood fraternity. Congrats!! pic.twitter.com/kB6FUZkVLx
— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) August 1, 2026
Friday, July 31
Chris Olave was a full participant in practice for the first time this offseason after agreeing to a contract extension on Thursday. For the first two days of camp, Olave did only individual position drills as they worked out the final details of the contract.
"It was kind of a deal where we kind of had to meet halfway [because of] the injuries and everything that happened," Olave said of the extension. "The uncertainty in the future, especially with the blood clot and concussions. We kind of met halfway. They did a great job of communicating that. And I feel like, my agent and them came to a good deal for both of us."
On Friday he participated in 11-on-11 drills, at one time lining up outside rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Olave and Tyson have been establishing their chemistry throughout the offseason, including a cohesive charity event set for Saturday. They showed off their bond in front of fans for the first time Friday.
"Jordyn is super talented," - @chrisolave_ on @tyson_jordyn pic.twitter.com/nKyWVH9uR0
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 31, 2026
More observations from the day:
Guard Cesar Ruiz and wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk were excused from practice for personal reasons. Dillon Radunz subbed in for Ruiz with the first unit
Nose tackle Davon Godchaux was given a rest day, while cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry had a light practice after tweaking his ankle the day before. Isaac Yiadom got snaps in McKinstry's place.
Charlie Smyth went 5-for-5 on field goals again on Friday. Smyth is kicking with a cast on his thumb after a summer injury, but joked to the media that he is the only player who doesn't actually need to use their hands.
Coach Kellen Moore said the team doesn't have a planned scrimmage like last year, so they can prep for their three joint practices instead.
Center Erik McCoy said his confidence has never wavered after two years of injuries and has tweaked his workout regimen to try to strengthen past problem areas.
Former Saints first-round pick Andrus Peat (No. 13 overall in 2015) announced his retirement after 11 seasons.
Thursday, July 30
Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee was the only notable absence from Day 2 of training camp after injuring his right knee Wednesday. Saints coach Kellen Moore said Bresee is getting a second opinion on a likely torn right ACL, but said initial results are "not great."
Moore said that "it's tough" to lose Bresee and that younger players will have to be ready to step up. Veteran Nathan Shepherd and Vernon Broughton, a 2025 third-round pick who did not play most of last season because of injury, took snaps with the first string. The Saints will have to find a new combination of players to generate success from the interior of the defensive line without their 2023 first-round pick.
"The goals don't change," Moore said. "We've still got plenty of guys in there that will be able to take advantage of an opportunity."
More observations from the day:
The defense had a key sequence toward the end of practice in red zone work. Chase Young ran into Tyler Shough, knocking him to the ground, and Quincy Riley intercepted Shough on the next play when Shough was looking for rookie Jordyn Tyson. Shough shook that off and responded with a touchdown throw.
Tyson got plenty of reps in his second day of camp, including a touchdown in red zone work.
Wide receiver Chris Olave, who was taking part in the second day of his hold-in before it was announced that he got his new deal, was again limited to individual drills, watching 11-on-11 drills from the sideline.
The Saints had fans in attendance for their second practice, a trend that will continue for most of their practices in Metairie.
Kicker Tanner Brown went 4-for-5 and missed a PAT.
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry's day ended early after he rolled his ankle late in practice. Moore said taking him out was a precautionary measure.
Jordyn Tyson TD 🙌 pic.twitter.com/QDzYeUQAHo
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 30, 2026
Wednesday, July 29
Wide receiver Chris Olave didn't participate in 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 drills, but his absence wasn't medically related, according to Saints coach Kellen Moore. Olave is electing to "hold in," as they work through a contract extension and did individual position drills but watched the team drills from the sideline.
"I think it's just respecting the business side of this thing, I think they're just working through that," Moore said. "Everyone has been great about this whole process. No issues there."
Olave has been around the team all offseason and has been a participant in most of the team's offseason practices on a limited basis. The Saints held him out of team drills while he was on blood thinners due to a blood clot that developed at the end of last season.
While Olave didn't fully participate, first-round pick Jordyn Tyson had a noticeable step up in participation. While he was limited earlier in the offseason due to previous hamstring issues, he did both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills in the team's first practice on Wednesday.
Other observations:
Charlie Smyth went 5-for-5 in kicks today. He'll be rotating reps and competing with former UFL kicker Tanner Brown
Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara both got first team reps, while Kendre Miller got reps with the second team. Miller tore his ACL last October but is starting camp healthy.
The Saints gave Taysom Hill's number to quarterback Hunter Dekkers. Hill is now a free agent after spending nine seasons with the Saints.
While the Saints started camp injury free, that quickly changed, as defensive lineman Bryan Bresee is feared to have torn his ACL during practice.
Tuesday, July 28
Saints wide receiver Chris Olave won't have any limitations after spending the offseason on blood thinners due to a blood clot he had at the end of the 2025 season. And because of his health issues, New Orleans approached his usage cautiously throughout OTAs and minicamp.
Mickey Loomis on Chris Olave pic.twitter.com/2l269Wij5r
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 28, 2026
Olave trained with quarterback Tyler Shough and several other Saints players in California earlier in July. He still doesn't have a contract extension in place as camp opens, but Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Tuesday that he has appreciated the way Olave has conducted himself throughout the process and during his time in New Orleans, calling him a "joy to have on our team."
Rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson was also limited during OTAs and minicamp because of hamstring injuries from college, so his usage during the acclamation period of training camp this week will be something to watch -- along with Olave's.