The New Orleans Saints are entering a critical phase of their 2026 training camp with their first joint practice against the Jacksonville Jaguars scheduled for Thursday. This session marks an important transition from internal drills to competitive evaluation against outside opponents, providing both teams with valuable opportunities to assess their progress before the preseason opener on Saturday.
Head Coach Kellen Moore emphasized the benefits of facing a different roster and scheme, noting that the Jaguars’ defensive and offensive approaches will present unique challenges for his team’s development. Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley added that joint practices serve as excellent evaluation tools, allowing coaches to measure how well players understand their assignments and execute proper technique against unfamiliar competition.
A significant advantage of Thursday’s practice is the extended playing time for starting units. Unlike typical preseason games where starters see limited action in week one, joint practices allow first-team players to accumulate substantial reps. Moore confirmed that most starters will sit out Saturday’s preseason matchup as a result, with participation determined by their performance during the practice session with Jacksonville.
The controlled environment of joint practices allows both coaching staffs to gather meaningful information while managing player workload during the early stages of training camp, setting the stage for the remainder of the preseason schedule.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
About the Author
