Preseason game number one for the New Orleans Saints is finally here. After a scrimmage with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, the Saints will host the Jaguars in the Superdome on Saturday afternoon. It will be the first 2026 preseason outing for either team.
Most starters for both teams will sit out the game. However, there is still much to keep an eye on for both teams. The Saints look like a much-improved roster from the 2026 version, but now have to show it on the field. This preseason test will be against a Jaguars squad coming off a 13-4 season and an AFC South championship. Here are a few things to watch closest during Saturday's Saints-Jaguars clash.
Offensive line
Don't expect any of the New Orleans starting five to see the field. However, this unit must show that they have some quality depth. Losing veteran Dillon Radunz for the year hurts. Radunz was able to fill in at multiple spots and had starting experience. The spotlight will be on second-year players Torricelli Simpkins, Easton Kilty, and rookie Jeremiah Wright on the inside. At tackle, Asim Richards along with undrafted rookies Alan Herron and Alex Wollschlaeger will have their opportunities.New Orleans has yet to sign a veteran offensive lineman after the injury to Radunz. Their philosophy is clearly to see what they have in their younger players. Saturday's performance of this unit against Jacksonville will help determine whether the Saints need to bring in veteran additions to the position before the end of training camp.
Wide receiver
We won't see Chris Olave or Jordyn Tyson. But there is still a lot to be determined within the receiving corps. Rookies Barion Brown and Bryce Lance have made some jaw-dropping plays consistently in practice. Now, they'll get a chance to do it in a game against a different defense. Brown and Lance seem nearly certain for roster spots, as does veteran Devaughn Vele. That leaves perhaps one job up for grabs within the unit.
Can returning veterans Ronnie Bell, Kevin Austin Jr., or Mason Tipton make their claim? Will Trey Palmer provide another threat for the offense? Can Bub Means revert back to his promising 2024 rookie form? Will any of them close the apparent gap between themselves and Brown or Lance? These are just a few of the questions to watch play out on the field. The biggest is this: Will the New Orleans receiving corps provide both a legitimate threat against defenses and quality depth for the team's offense?
Linebacker
Losing Demario Davis this offseason in free agency isn't getting talked about enough. Kaden Elliss, who will play very little if at all on Saturday, is a good linebacker. The bigger concern is if the Saints have enough talent otherwise to help make up for the loss of Davis on the field. All eyes should be on second-year linebacker Danny Stutsman, who must show he's developed enough to take reps from Pete Werner.
Recently signed Deion Jones needs to show that he hasn't lost too much of his open field athleticism. Isaiah Stalbird, the best athlete in this group, has a chance to earn a bigger defensive role. Jaylan Ford must show that he's more than just a special teamer. Late in this game, he and Jackson Sirmon are a must-watch at this position.
Defensive line
This is a position that needs to be more stout against the run and create havoc, something they did little of in 2025. Losing Bryan Bresee is a big blow, but the return of Vernon Broughton from his rookie injury is worth watching closely. Broughton has been disruptive in camp. Now, he gets a chance to show what he can do when full contact is allowed. It'll be fun to watch rookie second round choice Christen Miller against an NFL offensive line. He was drafted to get push in the middle and clog interior running lanes. New Orleans also needs to show that they can put together a quality interior rotation. The fact that the Saints have brought in so many defensive linemen this offseason should put veterans Davon Godchaux, Khristian Boyd, and John Ridgeway on notice.
Kicker
A competition that started training camp strong between Charlie Smyth and Tanner Brown has gotten a little ugly. Both have tailed off badly. Smyth in particular has had major inaccuracies recently, though Brown has also missed some notable kicks. Each will get their chances against the Jaguars. One certain thing is that the Saints cannot go into another season without a reliable kicker. If neither Brown or Smyth can inspire much confidence extremely soon, New Orleans would be wise to immediately start bringing in other kickers for tryouts.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 5 positions to watch in Saints vs. Jaguars preseason opener