The New Orleans Saints will visit the New York Jets for their third preseason game, with starting quarterback Drew Brees under center and directing the first-team offense. It’s a little late in the summer for many first impressions, but several Saints players still have time to better their reputation with the coaches or inspire confidence in their fans. Here’s six players who would really benefit from a strong performance in Week 3.
QB Drew Brees
The narrative chasing Brees all offseason has been questions of how well he can play at his age. The 40-year old quarterback has set and re-set plenty of records and made hundreds of memories in his NFL career, but an ugly end to his last season has fueled criticism throughout the summer. Brees has looked fine in practice but a sharp, efficient series or two in this preseason game would do a lot to quiet the doubters.
WR/RS Deonte Harris
Harris has done plenty to build an argument as to why he should win the job to field punts and kickoffs for the Saints this year, but he’s committed a cardinal sin (in head coach Sean Payton’s eyes) by putting a few balls on the ground. Clean punt receptions and more impressive moves after the catch could be enough for the rookie from Assumption College t orun away with this competition (helped a little by veteran Marcus Sherels’ extended absence).
QB Teddy Bridgewater
Debate has raged among Saints fans as to whether Bridgewater should be seen as the future heir to Brees, partly due to his poor first half against the Los Angeles Chargers a week ago. While Payton wrote that off to Bridgewater battling an illness, the inaccurate throws and sluggish pocket mobility on display were valid concerns. Even if he isn’t throwing against the Jets’ starters, Bridgewater has room to improve in just his fourth game with the Saints.
RB Devine Ozigbo
Alvin Kamara is secure in his starting job. Latavius Murray hasn’t done anything to threaten his number-two spot on the depth chart. That leaves Ozigbo competing with veterans like Dwayne Washington and Jacquizz Rodgers for the third wheel in the rotation. The undrafted rookie has had some bright moments this summer — including a clutch touchdown catch a week ago — but he hasn’t really separated himself from the pack. An untimely fumble against the Chargers also may dog him.
QB Taysom Hill
The Saints have played two preseason games, and we’ve seen two very different versions of Hill. He showed the same struggles as a passer in the second half of the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings, but turned it around against the Chargers’ reserves a week later. His always-impressive athleticism was apparent in each outing. Now in the third week, Hill has a great opportunity to show his game-winning style of play last time wasn’t an aberration.
LB Josh Martin
Injuries have hit the Saints depth chart at linebacker, with a starter (Alex Anzalone) and a top backup and special teams ace (Craig Robertson) each getting sidelined. The team signed free agent Will Compton to help lessen the load on those linebackers that still remain, but none of them is in as strong a position to earn a roster spot as Martin. He’s played a ton of snaps on the punt and kickoff units for the Saints through two preseason games and made a few plays on the defense last week. This is his moment to lock up a roster spot, and he can do it against his former team.
