The New Orleans Saints ruled out two players against the Cowboys, but they say five are questionable on the final Week 2 injury report:
The New Orleans Saints released their final Week 2 injury report ahead of Sunday’s game with the Dallas Cowboys, but we’ll have to wait until Sunday morning for confirmation on several key playmakers.
Just two players were ruled out for this game by New Orleans, in defensive tackle Khalen Saunders and linebacker D’Marco Jackson. Both of them are dealing with calf injuries.
What’s complicated is the group of five players who are questionable to suit up. That group includes keystones like left tackle Taliese Fuaga (back) and cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), plus young defensive linemen Bryan Bresee (illness) and Isaiah Foskey (back). Rookie linebacker Jaylan Ford (hamstring) is also questionable for Sunday.
As far as Dallas is concerned? They’ve already ruled out backup tight end John Stephens (hamstring), but the starter Jake Ferguson (knee) is doubtful to play after getting banged up in Week 1. Being so shorthanded at tight end could limit what the Cowboys offense can do on Sunday, but at the end of the day what it really comes down to is whether the Saints can contain dynamic slot receiver CeeDee Lamb.
After Friday’s practice, Dennis Allen discussed the Taliese Fuaga injury with the media, and he doesn’t seem worried about this being a long term ailment. Fuaga missed the last two days of practice after being limited on Wednesday.
Allen said Fuaga’s injury as “a little back tightness.” Allen also described it as “not a whole lot different than what Fuaga dealt with in training camp.” He emphasized that he feels good about where Fuaga is at. The rookie was phenomenal in his first career start last week against the Carolina Panthers, even if this back tightness is nagging him.
The Saints face the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday and will have to deal with the duo of DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons. This isn’t a game you want to go into down any offensive linemen, especially not a left tackle.
Allen may not characterize this as a major injury, but that is not a statement Fuaga will play. The team still has to evaluate him over the next couple of days. This is an indication Fuaga’s absence isn’t purely precautionary.
Allen called the decision on whether to play a player who hasn’t had the opportunity to practice a “challenge.” Fuaga’s uncommon maturity as a young player, however, makes it an easier decision. If Fuaga can play, he will go despite not practicing much. This should be expected to be a game-time decision.
It’s too soon to project whether or not Fuaga will miss the Saints’ contest with the Dallas Cowboys, but it isn’t too soon to look at the implications of his absence.
Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are two really good defensive ends. One of them will be in front of the left tackle. Running Trevor Penning and Landon Young out there to stop this duo doesn’t inspire confidence.
Lawrence is a strong run defender who offers a pass-rush element. That isn’t the prototype that gets the discussions flowing, but it certainly can disrupt a game. Meanwhile, Parsons is on the short list of the best pure pass rushers and most dynamic defenders in the NFL.
Fuaga dealt with back tightness in the preseason. We viewed how important his presence was at that time and this is the type of game we were worried about. This was before he turned offseason hype into a strong debut. Even in the preseason, it was clear he would be a valuable asset on the left side of the offensive line. Stay tuned for Friday’s final injury report and and update on his status for this Cowboys game.
This is worth watching. Saints rookie left tackle Taliese Fuaga (back) didn’t practice on Thursday ahead of Week 2’s road game with the Cowboys:
This is worth watching. New Orleans Saints rookie left tackle Taliese Fuaga (back) didn’t practice on Thursday, putting his status in jeopardy ahead of Week 2’s road game with the Dallas Cowboys. If he can’t go it would likely be veteran backup Landon Young or Olisaemeka Udoh starting in his place against DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons, and the talented Cowboys defensive line.
We’ll have to wait for final word on Fuaga’s condition later this week. He’s been managing this back injury with lighter practice days but this is the first session he’s missed since training camp. He didn’t miss a snap in the season opener and more than held his own, so there should be some optimism that he can go on Sunday. At the same time, it’s a long season, and this is only the second game of his NFL career. The Saints could choose to protect Fuaga by giving him more time to rest.
Other updates from the injury report: Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) missed a second day of practice which would put rookie draft pick Kool-Aid McKinstry in the starting lineup at cornerback. Veterans Tyrann Mathieu (heel) and Lucas Patrick (toe) returned to practice on a limited basis at safety and left guard, respectively, while tight ends Dallin Holker (ankle) and Foster Moreau (concussion) were upgraded to full reps. We’ll know more about everyone after Friday’s final injury report is released with travel plans becoming clear on Saturday.
Here’s the full injury report following Thursday’s practice:
Taliese Fuaga followed up on offseason hype with a strong Saints debut. He ranks inside the top-five from B/R’s rookie rankings:
The 2024 NFL draft was headlined by the surplus of quarterbacks drafted in the front half of the first round. After the first week, it isn’t the quarterbacks making at the top of Bleacher Report’s rankings. Instead, it’s primarily players on the offensive and defensive line.
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga comes in at second only to Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Fuaga wasn’t able to punch in two touchdowns, but it was still quite the debut.
It’s hard to craft a better debut than Fuaga had on Sunday. Erik McCoy has spent the offseason accelerating the hype train. After the game, McCoy should thank the rookie for making him look like a genius.
You’ll see a litany of clips on social media of Fuaga from his debut. His transition to the Saints scheme was expected to be smooth because of his experience in a wide zone system in college.
Fuaga comfortably sealed off defenders and climbed to the second level as the backside blocker. Fuaga is credited with 94% pass block win rate was good for 15th among all tackles. There is no rookie even close. He’ll have a much taller task in Week 2.
Taliese Fuaga delivered on the hype. He was ESPN’s best rookie offensive tackle in pass protection from Week 1’s games:
Taliese Fuaga delivered on the hype in his New Orleans Saints debut. He was ESPN’s best rookie offensive tackle in pass protection from Week 1’s games — ESPN sports analytics writer Seth Walder shared the pass block win rates for each of this year’s rookie starters, and Fuaga was head-and-shoulders above the rest.
Here’s where they ranked after Week 1 among the 60 starting offensive tackles:
Taliese Fuaga, 94% (15th)
Tyler Guyton, 84% (36th)
Joe Alt, 79% (48th)
Kingsley Suamataia, 69% (57th)
J.C. Latham, 65% (59th)
Now there’s an important caveat here we should note; Week 1 isn’t over at the time of writing, with the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers kicking off on Monday night. But the only rookie offensive tackle competing in that game is Olu Fashanu, who isn’t starting for the Jets. Still, it’s likely that guys like Trent Williams and Morgan Moses could push Fuaga down the standings a little bit.
Either way, he’s immediately set high standards for himself. And we should remember that Fuaga is doing all of this at left tackle after exclusively lining up on the right side at Oregon State. He was fouled for a weak holding call against the Panthers but he’s known for not making the same mistake twice, and that was really the only big blemish on his first game as a pro. The sky’s the limit for what he can achieve moving forward.
Saints DE Carl Granderson ripped through the Panthers for 10 pressures, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble in 2023. LT Ikem Ekwonu must keep him at bay in Week 1.
The Carolina Panthers will have to claim a few battles to win the war against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Here are four key matchups for this weekend’s regular-season opener between the NFC South rivals:
WR Diontae Johnson vs. CB Marshon Lattimore
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Quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers have a few new toys on offense, including Johnson. The former Pro Bowler, who is one of the best pure separators in football, will serve as the unit’s go-to target and give Young an element of openness he didn’t always have last season.
When it comes to New Orleans, go-to targets go through Lattimore—who was not in uniform the only time Johnson has faced the Saints. That contest came in 2022, when Johnson went for 63 yards on four receptions against Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor—the other two featured corners who are still in the secondary.
LT Ikem Ekwonu vs. DE Carl Granderson
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For Young to find Johnson and the rest of his pass catchers, he’ll have to avoid Granderson—who was an absolute menace against Carolina in 2023. The 27-year-old accounted for 10 pressures, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble between their two meetings.
Much of that pressure was charged to Ekwonu. The former sixth overall pick can begin to put a mediocre second campaign behind him with a little redemption at the start of his third.
Panthers OLBs vs. Saints OTs
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Carolina’s defense is headed into Week 1 with very few, if any answers to their pass-rushing problems. Other than 11th-year veteran Jadeveon Clowney, the Panthers are carrying only three (very inexperienced) outside linebackers on the active roster—DJ Johnson, Eku Leota and Jamie Sheriff.
Luckily for them, the Saints have a little inexperience of their own on the blindside with rookie and 2024 first-round pick Taliese Fuaga. They’ll also be rolling out starting right tackle Trevor Penning, who has had a very rough go in the NFL over his brief two-year career.
Something may (or may not) have to give here.
CB Mike Jackson vs. WR A.T. Perry
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
In addition to the second edge spot, the Panthers will have to figure out who will step up as the No. 2 cornerback next to Jaycee Horn. Mike Jackson, who was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 22, will seemingly get the first crack at the job.
He has to make sure Perry, an ascending young talent for New Orleans, doesn’t make himself a smooth criminal on Sunday.
Taliese Fuaga is the player with the most potential to raise the ceiling for the Saints’ offensive line. But Trevor Penning’s struggles make it a pivot point:
Taliese Fuaga is the player who has the potential raise the ceiling more than any other man along the New Orleans Saints offensive line. If that seems like too much pressure to put on a rookie then blame Erik McCoy. His consistent praise of Fuaga this offseason has elevated the expectations heading into Year 1.
Fuaga will be tested to face some of the most talented pass rushers in the NFL. After the season opener, there’s a four game stretch where Fuaga could line up against Micah Parsons, Bryce Huff, Matthew Judon, and even Chris Jones occasionally.
Trevor Penning is on the other side of the line, and his struggles have made the unit a pivot point. Penning’s development is key to the improvement of the offensive line. If he can’t meet expectations, their floor drops out beneath them. Just as Fuaga can improve the unit, Penning risks crippling it.
Fuaga set himself apart plainly because there’s more belief he can go the distance. Both men’s performance affects the ceiling of the unit dramatically, but Fuaga shown more this offseason and preseason than Penning. The higher the talent, the more the ceiling gets raised.
Additionally, a new left guard means more pressure on the left tackle. Penning has Cesar Ruiz to give assistance. The left guard will still help Fuaga, but he has less of a safety net. It’s likely going to be Lucas Patrick in that spot but thee Saints have viewed Nick Saldiveri as their best option, so the veteran won’t have a very long leash. Each of these players must do well and prove the five-man lineup is not as vulnerable as it may appear.
Klint Kubiak says Trevor Penning has “earned the right to go out there and play really well on Sunday” in the Saints’ season opener:
Trevor Penning made his first career start against the Carolina Panthers as a rookie. That was at left tackle in the 2022 season. The New Orleans Saints made the decision to move Penning over to right tackle instead of Taliese Fuaga this spring, and they’re sticking with it as we move towards the fall.
As the Saints prepare to make their season debut with Carolina, Trevor Penning is preparing for the first start of his career at right tackle. It’s a full-on 180 as this start comes in the first game opposed to the last game of the season like in 2022.
Klint Kubiak made the announcement Thursday afternoon, declaring that Penning has “earned the right to go out there and play really well on Sunday.” Penning took the majority of the reps as the starting right tackle this summer. Olisaemeka Udoh made a late push, but it was clearly Penning’s job to lose, and the coaches didn’t see enough to warrant taking it from him.
There have been a lot of eyes on Penning’s development through the offseason. That won’t stop because he was declared the starter. Kubiak made sure to emphasize the offensive line is a unit. It’s the ultimate unit in football and is “about five guys, not one.”
A microscope is on that entire retooled unit, but Penning is likely under a microscope under another microscope going into Week 1. He needs to play well and justify the trust he’s been given.
The New Orleans Saints have three new starters on the offensive line and Erik McCoy lays out what each guy brings to the table.
The New Orleans Saints offensive line will look drastically different from last year. Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz are the only true constants.
Trevor Penning is a familiar face in a new position. He’ll replace Ryan Ramczyk at right tackle while rookie Taliese Fuaga will start at left tackle. Lucas Patrick comes in at left guard.
The veteran of the group, Erik McCoy, spoke about the new members of the offensive line.
McCoy praised the first-round pick saying, “I think he’s a ball player and I really believe he’ll have a great rookie year. I think he can be a really good player for this team for a long time.” He doesn’t believe Fuaga’s back injury will disrupt what is a bright immediate future.
This isn’t the first time McCoy has spoken highly of Fuaga. He has a high level of belief in the rookie.
McCoy also evaluated Penning and Patrick. He’s seen every year of Penning’s career and feels he’s been making strides and hopes this will be a good year for Penning. Patrick’s experience in a similar system has been a valuable asset for McCoy. If he has a question, Patrick has been there to answer it
