Who helped themselves at two weeks of training camp and the first New Orleans Saints preseason game? Between unexpected injuries, suspensions, retirements, and the depth chart changes that come with competition, it's time to reevaluate. Roster cuts loom large on Aug. 30. Guys on the bubble must make the most of their opportunities in joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys this week before playing those teams again in the next two exhibition games. Here's our updated 53-man roster projection going into the second week of the preseason. Quarterbacks (2)
On the roster: Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler On the outs: Zach Wilson, Hunter Dekkers
Wilson did really well against the Jaguars' backups, but Rattler has maintained a gap ahead of him at practice. We've got to see more from Wilson before buying into the idea that he'll replace Rattler as the QB2. But he's starting that conversation. It could turn into a real debate if Wilson outplays Rattler these next two weeks. Running backs (4)
On the roster: Travis Etienne Jr., Alvin Kamara, Audric Estime, Devin Neal On the outs: Kendre Miller, Ty Chandler, CJ Donaldson
If he's healthy, Estime should make this team as the third running back. But he suffered an ankle injury after being set up by a bad ball from Spencer Rattler against Jacksonville. Kendre Miller is in the same position after injuring his back in practice, but his lengthier injury history means it's probably best to go in a different direction. Time is running out for Devin Neal to get back on the field and make his case, too. He gets in for now because we know he's better in pass protection than Estime. Chandler's big kickoff reteurn to start the preseason game might have won a roster spot, too, but we've got to see more from him. Tight ends (3)
On the roster: Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, Oscar Delp On the outs: Moliki Matavao, Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Zaire Mitchell-Paden
No change here, but Delp may need more time after struggling with ball security in the preseason game. He only caught three of his six targets and still lost control of the football after scoring a goal-line touchdown. But he blocked well and should still have a role on game days. Mitchell-Paden had a costly special teams penalty. Wide receivers (6)
On the roster: Chris Olave, Jordyn Tyson, Devaughn Vele, Bryce Lance, Barion Brown, Bub Means On the outs: Mason Tipton, Ronnie Bell, Kevin Austin Jr., Trey Palmer, Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Brock Rechsteiner
Ja'Lynn Polk's abrupt suspension a couple of days into training camp torched almost everyone's roster projections, but the Saints have gotten impressive returns out of Brown, Means, and some other receivers lower on the depth chart since then. With Tyson's status unclear after another hamstring injury, it could be wise to run deep at wide receiver. Could free agent veteran Keenan Allen make sense for this team? Offensive line (8)
On the roster: Kelvin Banks Jr. (tackle), David Edwards (guard), Erik McCoy (center), Cesar Ruiz (guard), Taliese Fuaga (tackle), Asim Richards (tackle), Jeremiah Wright (guard), Will Sherman (guard/center), Easton Kilty (guard) On the outs: Barry Wesley (tackle), Torricelli Simpkins III (center), Xavier Truss (guard), Alan Herron (tackle), Alex Wollschlaeger (tackle)
Dillon Radunz was a lock to make the roster, so losing him to a season-ending knee injury is a big hit to the depth chart. Simpkins has had too many bad snaps at practice and he struggled at the pivot in this first preseason game. It's worth seeing if Sherman can do a better job on the second-string line. Richards is still comfortably ahead of the two rookie free agents and Wright isn't ready to push Ruiz for the starting job. Don't be shocked if the Saints trade for help on the offensive line while actively scouring the waiver wire.
Special teams (3)
On the roster: Zach Wood (snapper), Ryan Wright (punter), Tanner Brown (kicker) On the outs: Charlie Smyth (kicker)
It's still early but we're giving Brown the nod in the kicking competition. He's been the steadier leg at practice and kicked a perfect game in the preseason, hitting a 49-yard field goal while Smyth missed from 52. There's time for Smyth to win this job but his inconsistency is keeping it up in the air. Defensive line (5)
On the roster: Vernon Broughton, Nathan Shepherd, Christen Miller, Davon Godchaux, John Ridgeway III On the outs: Myles Cole, Jay'Viar Suggs, Brien Taylor Jr., Khalil Saunders
Who steps up after Bryan Bresee was lost for the season? Broughton has had some strong reviews coming out of training camp and it says a lot that the Saints didn't feel the need to play him in this first preseason game. Godchaux's injury opened the door for Miller to get more snaps and he was outstanding at the nose in the Jaguars game, but he's dealing with a persistent shoulder injury. Ridgeway has a minor back issue. This is another group that may need more help. Edge rushers (5)
On the roster: Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Cameron Jordan, Anfernee Jennings, Michael Heldman On the outs: Tyree Wilson, Fadil Diggs, Garrett Nelson, Malakai Williams
It's going to be really tough to keep Heldman off this roster if he keeps playing as well as he did in the preseason opener. According to Pro Football Focus, 115 edge rushers have logged at least 10 pass rush snaps this preseason. Heldman leads all of them in PFF's pass rush productivity stat. He at least deserves to be promoted from the third-string defense at practice. Linebackers (5)
On the roster: Kaden Elliss, Pete Werner, Danny Stutsman, Jaylan Ford, Isaiah Stalbird On the outs: Deion Jones, Jackson Sirmon, Chris Rumph II
Any speculation that Ford would get pushed off the depth chart was squashed when he picked off a red-zone interception and had eight tackles in the first half against Jacksonville. Stalbird is still a top-flight special teams player but he's developing into a real asset on defense, too. Jones looked like he belonged and may be a fit for one of the six spots reserved for veterans on the practice squad. Safeties (6)
On the roster: Justin Reid, Jonas Sanker, Julian Blackmon, Terrell Burgess, Jordan Howden, Lorenzo Styles Jr., On the outs: Elliott Davison
Styles already looks like an invaluable player on special teams; he gets downfield in a hurry on both punts and kickoffs, and he has some utility as the third-string slot defender behind Sanker and cornerback Jayden Price. Burgess and Howden are who we're most uncertain about here, but they've worn enough hats in the secondary to justify holding onto them. The Saints typically roster ten defensive backs but the split isn't always five safeties and five corners. Cornerbacks (4)
On the roster: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley, Martin Emerson Jr., Jayden Price On the outs: Isaac Yiadom, Rezjohn Wright, TJ Hall Jr., Dalys Beanum, Mike Reid
It'll be hard to keep Emerson off the field after he broke up three passes on Jacksonville's first 11 pass attempts in the preseason opener. He played well in training camp, too. But the starters are holding up well and the guy under the most pressure is Yiadom. He was benched early last season and appears to have lost a step in his age-30 season. With Price making so m any plays as the backup slot corner, Yiadom might be a better fit on the practice squad. Wright made the team last year but has struggled to stay healthy this summer. This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: New Orleans Saints 53-man roster projection after first preseason game