IRVINE, Calif. — The New Orleans Saints kicked off Day 2 of the team's training camp at Crawford Field on the campus of UC-Irvine in Orange County, Calif., on Thursday.
Following one injury on Day 1, a hamstring injury to Kendre Miller that made headlines when Saints head coach Dennis Allen provided a blunt assessment on the career to date of the third-round pick (No. 71 overall) in last year's NFL Draft.
On the second day of practice, the Saints saw two more injuries.
Rookie undrafted free agent defensive end out of Arkansas Trajan Jeffcoat was carted off the field with a dislocated elbow and veteran offensive lineman Shane Lemieux, originally a fifth-rounder of the New York Giants in 2020, exited practice early with an ankle issue.
In positive news, former Tulane defensive back Roderic Teamer picked off backup quarterback Jake Haener during practice. It was an interception Coach Allen later described as a "Helluva play."
Coach Allen touted the 27-year-old Brother Martin alum, who joined the Saints in June after previously spending three of his five NFL seasons with the Raiders.
"He's a veteran player...that's established himself as being a pretty decent special teams player," explained Allen. "But I've seen a guy pick up the defense pretty well, understands what to do. He's been a pro, come in and been quiet, gone to work and done everything we've asked him to do. You watch day in and day out and the guys that make plays catch your eye and all of a sudden they make another play and catch your eye some more, and they make another play and the next thing you know that's one of the guys you're putting in there thinkin' maybe he's a guy we can count on.
"I don't think we're at that point two days into training camp," he continued. "But that's a nice start."
Speaking of Haener earlier, could there be a battle for the backup brewing?
Last year's fourth-round selection out of Fresno State, who moved up the depth chart following the release of Jameis Winston in March, was seen leading the third-team while rookie fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler worked out as the No. 2.
Allen downplayed the significance of the switch when pressed by media after practice.
“I would venture to say throughout the course of training camp, you'll see both of 'em run with the third group, (and) you'll see both of 'em run with the second group,” said Allen.
2022 first-rounder and team No. 1 receiver Chris Olave sang Rattler's praises when asked about his first impression of the rookie from South Carolina by way of Oklahoma.
"His arm talent is off the charts, he's real natural," claimed Olave. "He's going to be real good. I want to see him in action, but from my first impression, he's going to be a real good player."
Finally, during the Day 2 presser following practice, five-time All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis shared his thoughts on the reality of New Orleans hosting Super Bowl LIX in February 2025.
"The Super Bowl is coming to New Orleans, and that means you make the playoffs, you have an opportunity to play every game at home," Davis explained. "It's a long journey to that point and a lotta work gotta be done. And if that means something to you, it's gonna show. It means something to me and it means something to this team."
Super Bowl LIX is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Caesars Superdome.
Dennis Allen, Head Coach
Coach Allen on another solid performance by a former Tulane DB on Day 2
Chris Olave, Wide Receiver
Olave on expectations for himself and receiving corps for Saints in Year 3
Demario Davis, Linebacker
Significance of New Orleans hosting Super Bowl LIX not lost on Davis, Saints
Cesar Ruiz, Offensive Lineman
Ruiz on intensity shown during start of Saints training camp in Cali
Landon Young, Offensive Lineman
Young on Saints OL accepting challenge to better protect QB Derek Carr
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