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New Orleans Saints 53-man roster includes undrafted rookies at punter and receiver; backup quarterback battle is ongoing

'They're still competing. And I really want that to be that way throughout the course of the season'

Even though the New Orleans Saints had an incumbent punter, Lou Hedley, and even though Hedley was and will remain a "mate" – Matthew Hayball signed with the Saints as a free agent rookie hunting for an opportunity to punt in the NFL.

He bagged it Tuesday, when the West Adelaide, Australia, native was named to the 53-man roster, supplanting his friend Hedley, who grew up in Mandurah, Australia.

"Really, extremely grateful for the opportunity," Hayball said. "I want to start with credit to Lou and (kicker) Charlie (Smyth), the way I feel like we made each other better throughout this whole process and I can't thank those guys enough. I know they're both going to have a lot of success with whatever comes next."

What's next for Hayball, who averaged 50.3 gross yards and 36.4 on seven punts in preseason, is punting for New Orleans.

"We're good mates," he said of Hedley. "I know he's going to have a lot of success, we've both grown a lot. I'm looking forward to seeing where he ends up, and I know he's going to do really well.

"I knew I was going to learn and develop quickly here, regardless. So the opportunity to come and work with (assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi and assistant special teams coach Phil Galiano), they've been great about giving undrafted guys a real opportunity, so I just felt like this was a great spot to come in and if I could do the right things, then I was going to get a good opportunity here."

Saints Coach Dennis Allen said Hayball came on strong down the stretch in training camp.

"There were a couple of factors," Allen said. "Hayball is younger (27, while Hedley is 31), I think he's got a little bit more leg talent, and I think over the course of the last couple of weeks of practice, he was probably a little bit more consistent than Lou."

Hedley punted nine times in preseason games, averaging 43.7 yards gross and 35.4 yards net.

Hayball said he still is looking to improve and achieve consistency.

"I think just looking to flip the field, continuing to grow with my consistency there," he said. "There's still some things to clean up but just every day, just trying to get better and cleaning those things up."

Undrafted rookie receiver Mason Tipton , who dazzled in training camp practice before injuring his hamstring, didn't play in any of the three preseason games, but made the final roster. The speedster from Yale continually was able to beat the secondary deep in camp and was displaying an ability to make plays underneath before his injury.

"Obviously, with him not participating in preseason games, that's something that I wish we could have seen," Allen said. "But I felt like he did enough in the time that he was out there that warranted a spot on the 53."

There wasn't no doubt that backup quarterbacks Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler would be members of the 53. But Allen said the competition for the No. 2 slot behind Derek Carr is ongoing.

Haener completed 24 of 43 passes for 270 yards and no touchdowns, with no interceptions, in preseason. Rattler completed 20 of 38 for 202 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions, and ran seven times for 26 yards and a touchdown.

"They're still competing," Allen said. "And I really want that to be that way throughout the course of the season, that those guys are coming out here every day and they're competing. It's a healthy competition. I think both those guys have done well.

"I'm not in any way ready to make any sort of statement or comment or declaration or anything of that nature. We'll just let those guys keep coming out and working and practicing and getting better. And here's the deal with both of those players: Both of them, we've got to develop.

"We've got to find ways to get reps for these guys, whether it be on the 'show' team or whether it be extra sessions with some of the young skill guys. Things of that nature. They're going to have to continue to work to develop. I think that's probably the most unique thing and probably the bigger challenge of all of this, that we have two young guys that need work, that need to develop and there's only so many snaps you can get throughout the course of the week. That'll be our challenge."

Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2024 NFL season for the Black and Gold.

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