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Saints Training Camp 2024: Key Takeaways from Thursday, Aug. 22

Defensive end Chase Young returns to practice

Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Thursday, August 22.

1. Thursday Quick Hits

The New Orleans Saints practiced at their home facility for the second straight day with walk-through, stretching and individual/position periods outside, and team periods inside at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Thursday's practice was a full 30 minutes shorter than Wednesday's which went a full two hours. --- Safety Johnathan Abram and offensive guard Lucas Patrick returned to practice fully after leaving Wednesday's practice with cramps. --- Defensive end Chase Young also returned to practice fully after missing the last two practices due to personal reasons. --- Rookie left tackle Taliese Fuaga took all team reps on Thursday after just participating in individuals the last two practices. --- The offensive and defensive lines did two-on-two drills during individual/position periods. Normally we see one-on-one but Thursday was a bit of a different slant as the two defensive linemen would try to break through with different stunts and spin moves while the two offensive linemen tried to keep them off the quarterback, sometimes having to switch assignments. --- The Saints will have an open practice Friday in the new look Caesars Superdome at 1 p.m. presented by Rouses Markets. Admission is free and open to the public.

2. Haener chunk series

We mentioned earlier that practice was shortened 30 minutes Thursday, so the temp was very fast. The second team offense made the most of it in the second team portion of practice that was indoors. Jake Haener took four reps at quarterback, and every play was a big one with the ball placed at the minus 40 for each rep. On the first play, Haener took the snap and looked to the left sideline, and appeared he was going to throw that way, then he took a quick glance back to the right where running back James Robinson was running a slant. Haener's pass was perfect, hit Robinson at full speed, who caught it, and went the distance. The next play was just a simple handoff to rookie running back Jacob Kibodi, who, helped by left tackle Landon Young, left guard Kyle Hergel, center Shane Lemieux, right guard Tremayne Anchrum, and right tackle Olisaemeka Udoh, found a hole to run through big enough for a truck to roll through right up the middle. Kibodi would get into the secondary untouched before running the play out for another huge gain. On the next play Haener took a shotgun snap and fired a deep cross as wide receiver A.T. Perry went from right to left. The throw again was perfect and in stride and Perry made the catch ahead of Rejzohn Wright and rolled to the left sideline after a 25-yard gain. Haener wasn't done yet. On play four, another deep seam route, this time to Stanley Morgan Jr. down the right hash for a 60-yard touchdown. The offensive players behind the play could not contain their excitement. It was without a doubt the best offensive set of reps during a team period in all of training camp.

3. Play(s) of the Day

As the media hustled from outside to inside to see the team portion of practice, we missed the first team period with Derek Carr at quarterback. Thankfully, we didn't miss the second set of reps with Spencer Rattler at quarterback. With the ball at the plus 45-yard line Rattler executed a nice play-action fake, had all kinds of time with solid blocking up front, and uncorked a deep ball to the left sideline on the numbers. Running free by three yards past cornerback Mac McCain was Kevin Austin Jr. who made the catch and walked in the south end zone of the indoor for an easy touchdown, again, drawing cheers from the offensive participants behind the line of scrimmage. Austin it seems makes at least one big play per day, as he vies for that WR4 spot. The second one had to be mentioned. With a little love to defensive end Carl Granderson . On the second rep of the first team period, with Carr at quarterback, tight end Juwan Johnson was running a route down the right side on the numbers. Carr saw Johnson about 15-20 yards down the field and thought he was going to have an easy completion. However, Granderson had other ideas. Rarely do you see a defensive end lined up to rush the passer and then backtrack to cover a sprinting tight end in pass coverage but that's exactly what happened. Johnson reached to catch the ball, had it briefly, then was poked away by Granderson who got credited with the pass breakup (PBU). A rare sight indeed, but these are the types of plays Granderson has made since camp began a month ago in Irvine. We'll see you in the Dome on Friday for the open practice.

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