The New Orleans Saints have reached decision time.
Following their latest major practice session, head coach Kellen Moore and his staff must turn an injury-altered training-camp roster into the best possible opening-week team. In the latest Who Dat Daily show, Big Q breaks down the practice developments, the three-man kicking competition and his corrected Saints 53-man roster projection.
Watch the complete show below:
The biggest takeaway from Big Q’s projection is the corrected roster math. The original list accounted for only 50 active players. Wide receiver and returner Trey Palmer, defensive tackle John Ridgeway III and cornerback Michael Davis complete the projected 53.
Latest Saints practice developments
The Saints’ open practice at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium drew an announced crowd of 7,948 fans, giving the Who Dat Nation one more opportunity to see the team before the preseason finale.
Moore indicated that most established starters would not play against the Dallas Cowboys. The coach believes the Saints received enough high-quality work from three joint-practice sessions, allowing the finale to become an extended evaluation for younger players and roster-bubble candidates.
The kicking competition also remained in focus. All three kickers received opportunities during the open session:
| Kicker | Practice Result |
|---|---|
| Tanner Brown | 8-for-8 |
| Daniel Carlson | 7-for-8 |
| Charlie Smyth | 7-for-8 |
Brown produced the cleanest statistical session, but Big Q’s roster projection still gives the job to veteran Daniel Carlson. Carlson’s experience and established NFL résumé could carry significant weight when the Saints make their final decision.
Big Q’s corrected roster construction
Four injured players—Alvin Kamara, Jordyn Tyson, Quincy Riley and Lorenzo Styles Jr.—are listed as projected injured-reserve placements in this exercise. They are not included in the active 53-man total.
These are projections rather than official Saints transactions. If one or more of those players remains on the initial active roster, another projected player would have to be removed.
| Unit | Projected Players |
| Offense | 26 |
| Defense | 24 |
| Specialists | 3 |
| Active roster total | 53 |
| Projected IR—not counted | 4 |
Return assignments do not create additional roster spots. Barion Brown and Trey Palmer are counted once as wide receivers while also serving as the projected kick and punt returners.
Projected Saints offense: 26 players
| Position | Players | Total |
| Quarterback | Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, Zach Wilson | 3 |
| Running back | Travis Etienne Jr., Audric Estimé, Kendre Miller, Zamir “Zeus” White | 4 |
| Wide receiver | Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, Barion Brown, Bryce Lance, Bub Means, Trey Palmer | 6 |
| Tight end | Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, Oscar Delp, Treyton Welch | 4 |
| Offensive line | Kelvin Banks Jr., David Edwards, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Taliese Fuaga, Asim Richards, Jeremiah Wright, William Sherman, Torricelli Simpkins III | 9 |
Keeping all three quarterbacks limits flexibility elsewhere, but each provides a different form of insurance. Shough is the starter, Rattler knows the system and Wilson supplies veteran experience.
Palmer’s addition gives the Saints six active receivers and another explosive return option while Jordyn Tyson recovers. Travis Etienne Jr. leads a four-back active rotation with Kamara projected to begin the season away from the active roster.
Projected Saints defense: 24 players
| Position | Players | Total |
| Edge defender | Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Cameron Jordan, Tyree Wilson, Fadil Diggs | 5 |
| Defensive tackle | Christen Miller, Vernon Broughton, Nathan Shepherd, Davon Godchaux, Khristian Boyd, John Ridgeway III | 6 |
| Linebacker | Kaden Elliss, Pete Werner, Danny Stutsman, Jaylan Ford, Isaiah Stalbird | 5 |
| Cornerback | Kool-Aid McKinstry, Martin Emerson Jr., Jayden Price, Michael Davis | 4 |
| Safety | Jonas Sanker, Justin Reid, Julian Blackmon, Jordan Howden | 4 |
Ridgeway replaces Isaac Yiadom in Big Q’s corrected projection and creates a deep six-man defensive-tackle rotation. His size and veteran power give Brandon Staley another dependable interior option.
Davis fills the most obvious secondary need. With Riley projected for injured reserve, the Saints need an experienced fourth cornerback behind Kool-Aid McKinstry, Martin Emerson Jr. and Jayden Price.
Projected Saints specialists
| Role | Player |
| Kicker | Daniel Carlson |
| Punter | Ryan Wright |
| Long snapper | Zach Wood |
| Kick returners | Barion Brown, Trey Palmer |
| Punt returners | Barion Brown, Trey Palmer |
The return duties are assignments—not extra roster positions. Brown and Palmer are already included among the six active receivers.
Big Q’s final three additions
| Player | Position | Why He Makes It |
| Trey Palmer | WR/Returner | Speed, NFL experience and explosive return ability |
| John Ridgeway III | Defensive tackle | Veteran size and dependable interior depth |
| Michael Davis | Cornerback | Experience and necessary depth for an injury-hit secondary |
The final verdict
Big Q’s corrected projection produces a balanced roster of 26 offensive players, 24 defenders and three specialists. Palmer, Ridgeway and Davis solve three different needs without double-counting return assignments or projected injured-reserve players.
The final preseason performance, injury designations and waiver-wire opportunities can still change the Saints’ plans. For now, these are the 53 players Big Q believes give New Orleans its best opening-week roster.
Who Dat Nation: Which projected player would you remove, and who deserves the spot instead? Join the discussion below and watch the complete show for Big Q’s full breakdown.
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