IRVINE, Calif — The New Orleans Saints opened its third day of 2024 training camp on Crawford Field at UC-Irving in Orange County, Calif., on Friday, and with it another possible injury – which would be the fourth in three days.
Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore left practice with a hip flexor issue. Head coach Dennis Allen confirmed his exit and the problem, but did not disclose the severity of the injury.
Allen did say second-year running back Kendre Miller is currently going through the hamstring injury process.
"That's where it's at," said Allen, who offered a blunt assessment of the oft-injured 2023 third-rounder out of TCU. Since his selection last year, Miller has failed to live up to a comment he made after the draft when he told WWL Radio, "Even though I respect [Alvin] Kamara and everything he got for the Saints, and everything he did, but I’m coming for that No. 1.”
In rather unexpected news, last year's fourth-round quarterback Jake Haener admitted to being recently diagnosed with a rare skin cancer that affects young people when asked if a bandage on the right side of his face was a battle scar from training camp.
Haener said it’s not considered life-threatening and he is working with doctors on a treatment plan.
"I have a consultation with doctors on August 1, on our off day, to try to figure out how long I can wait because I have to get a different procedure done on my face," Haener told media in the team's post-practice press conference.
In more upbeat news, wide receiver and return specialist Rashid Shaheed was all smiles when asked about his one-year contract extension agreed upon earlier this month.
The 25-year-old undrafted free agent out of Weber State is entering his third season with the Saints and is coming off an All-Pro and Pro Bowl season as a punt returner and return specialist respectively.
And a new NFL kickoff rule that mimics the format first introduced by the old-XFL which could position Shaheed toward greater heights in the near future.
"I'm in favor of it, I love it," Shaheed admitted. "It gives us an opportunity to score a lot more points and gain better field position, so I'm really excited to how that's going to turn out."
So hear more from the Saints in the team's post-practice interviews, watch below:
Dennis Allen, Head Coach
Coach Allen encouraged by both sides of the ball 3 days into camp
Rashid Shaheed, Receiver/Kick Return Specialist
All-Pro and Pro Bowl return specialist welcomes new kickoff return changes
Jake Haener, Quarterback
Saints QB diagnosed with rare form of skin cancer
Tyrann Mathieu, Defensive Back
Significance of bringing Super Bowl to NOLA not lost on veterans
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