Everything you need to know about Saints Training camp
The New Orleans Saints are gearing up for the 2024 regular season with four weeks of training camp.
WDSU Sports Anchor Sharief Ishaq will be giving daily reports from Irvine, California, as practices lead into the preseason games.
Below is everything you need to know before practices begin:
Frequently asked questions:
When and where is training camp?
The New Orleans Saints will begin this year's training camp on July 24 in Irvine, California. Rookies will report three days earlier on July 21.
Training camp runs for nearly four weeks and will end on Friday, Aug. 16.
Why is training camp in California instead of Louisiana?
In December, ground broke on a comprehensive one-year construction project to build a brand-new team cafeteria at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. The footprint required for the construction zone has temporarily reduced the space available for approximately 150 Saints coaches, players and staff.
The Saints will practice at Crawford Field at UCI's athletics complex, a 12-acre field large enough to accommodate five regulation football fields with access to medical and strength and conditioning facilities.
For the Saints, this will be the 12th site that they have utilized for Training Camp, including the Ochsner Sports Performance Center.
What is the time difference between New Orleans and Irvine?
The time difference between U.S. Central and Pacific time puts New Orleans two hours ahead of Irvine, California.
Can fans attend?
There is no scheduled fan interaction with the team while they are in Irvine. However, the team did announce two open practices for when they return to New Orleans.
Those practices start on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at Yulman Stadium (Tulane) and on Friday, Aug. 23, at the Caesars Superdome.
For more information on those practices, click here.
How can I get updates from training camp everyday?
WDSU Sports Anchor Sharief Ishaq will be at training camp and will provide daily updates from Irvine.
You can watch his updates on WDSU during our regularly scheduled newscasts.
Ishaq will also provide the Rouses' Saints Training Camp update each day, which you can watch in the video player above.
What is the weather like in Irvine, California?
It looks like the Saints will be in some great weather out in Irvine.
For rain, on average, Irvine basically sees no rain during the months of July and August. If they do see rain, it's likely going to be less than a tenth. That's if they even see any. The rainiest months are January, February, and December.
For temperatures, it will be a whole lot better than New Orleans.
For late July into August, the typical high is usually in the lower 80s. The typical low usually falls to the mid 60s.
The sky usually averages out to the partly to mostly clear. July and August are typically going to be clear to mostly clear.
They can expect anywhere from 13-14 hours of sunlight.
The "cloudiest" months are January, February, and December.
It's also going to feel very comfortable for most of the day in July and August, which is their "muggiest" month.
It does not even come close to what southeast Louisiana feels like in the summer. Irvine's summer basically feels like New Orleans in February, March, and April for humidity.
State of the Saints:
How is the offense looking this year?
While it's just the offseason, the revamped Saints offense appears to be something the players like. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has added more play-action calls, which is an area where Derek Carr has shown success throughout his 11-year NFL career.
The Alvin Kamara contract situation will overshadow the offense at the stat of training camp. Kamara left mandatory minicamp early in June over a contract dispute.
Will he be in Irvine on day one?
Will he hold out for a new deal?
Will he be happy and engaged if he and the franchise don't agree on a contract extension?
Kamara is coming off his least productive season as a pro and is looking for a big bounce-back year in Kubiak's offense.
His situation will be the biggest news story until it's ultimately resolved.
The second biggest topic for the offense will be the offensive line.
New WDSU 'Saints on 6' analyst James Hurst was part of the O-Line last year. In the attached social media video he talked with WDSU Sports Reporter Kendall Duncan about that unit.
How is the defense looking this year?
Since the final few seasons of Drew Brees, the defense had been the backbone of the Saints. Players like Cam Jordan, Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu are still playing at high levels.
That said, those veterans aren't getting any younger, so the Black and Gold need recent draft picks to step up. Defensive ends Payton Turner and Isaiah Foskey need to start producing, and after a solid rookie campaign, the Saints would benefit greatly if defensive tackle Bryan Bresee made a huge leap in year two.
Because the Saints were the fifth-worst defense in the NFL in 2023 when it came to producing sacks, the team added 2020 NFL defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young.
Young underwent a serious neck procedure immediately following his signing but told the media during minicamp that he expects to be 100% for the start of training camp.
Biggest takeaways from Saints minicamp?
The biggest takeaway is Derek Carr's leadership. Upon arriving last year via free agency on the richest deal in Saints franchise history, Carr felt a bit like an interloper joining the remnants of the Sean Payton, Drew Brees era. He was learning "their" system and trying to show he could be the next Drew.
Now that the entire coaching staff has been changed on offense and all players are learning together, Carr seems more comfortable in his role as the leader of the offense.
Will Carr's comfort lead to more consistency? Time will tell, but it seems like a more stable infrastructure for this offense has been built, which could allow everyone to reach their full potential.
What is the latest on Alvin Kamara's contract?
Running back Alvin Kamara reported for training camp Tuesday, and was seen practicing Wednesday.
It is unclear if the contract dispute between him and the Saints has been resolved; but his attendance could signal significant progress, if not a resolution to the dispute altogether.
Kamara spoke at the first day of training camp where he voiced that he wants to retire a Saint.
He is in the final year of his current deal, during which he's scheduled to make a little more than $10 million.
Who is injured ahead of the season?
The biggest injury is offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk. The former All-Pro player may never play football again. A key cog in the Saints' resurrection starting in 2017, Ramzcyk has dealt with knee issues in recent years and during the offseason, head coach Dennis Allen said Ramczyk did not respond favorably to surgery.
The team drafted rookie Taliese Fuaga and immediately placed him at left tackle. They moved 2022 first-round draft pick Trevor Penning to right tackle and seem set with those two going into training camp.
While no one has said Ramczyk will not play in 2024, reading between the line, it seems like that's the likely outcome.
Tight end Juwan Johnson also had offseason foot surgery and will be out until the start of the regular season.
Johnson has been one of the Saints' most productive receivers the past two years, but good news, the team has depth at that position. Foster Moreau is rock solid, and Taysom Hill is expected to have an even bigger and more creative role in the offense. Rookie undrafted tight end Dallin Holker also flashed during offseason work and could make an impact early if Johnson's injury lingers into the regular season.
Who is competing for a starting position?
Given the Black and Gold are one of the oldest veteran teams in the NFL, most of the Saints' key positions are not up for grabs.
But some battles fans should pay close attention to are:
Left Offensive Guard:
Second-year player Nick Saldiveri seems to have the advantage to become the starter at this position. The Saints traded up in the 2023 draft to select Saldiveri out of Old Dominion University, and after sitting and learning as a rookie, he's been elevated to the first team during the offseason. Veteran Shane Lemieux seems to be Saldiveri's main competition for the starting job.
Slot Corner:
Assuming Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo are the starting outside cornerbacks, who is playing in the slot?
Alontate Taylor has flashed at times but was also benched last season. He's had a strong offseason, but the team added University of Alabama DB Kool-Aid McKinstry in the 2024 draft. McKinstry was recovering from foot surgery during the offseason, but these two should engage in a spirited battle once camp starts.
Back-up Quarterback:
Jake Heaner or Spencer Rattler. Don't believe some of the social media hype for Rattler. Many of the people posting are not at any of the workouts. While Rattler's arm talent is obvious, he struggled most of the offseason and is definitely behind second-year pro Jake Haener. Haener was exceptional during OTAs and minicamp and enters training camp as the clear No. 2 option at QB.
Most intense practices, joint practices with the San Francisco 49ers and preseason games will ultimately determine this situation, but right now I'd bet on Haener as the back-up quarterback.
Saints preseason schedule:
The Saints will play three preseason games, two on the road and one in the Dome.
The team will travels for their first game against the Arizona Cardinals at the State Farm Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m.
They will then face the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.
The Saints will then close out their preseason in New Orleans against the Tennessee Titans.
That game will be at 1 p.m. on Aug. 25.
Saints regular season schedule:
The New Orleans Saints will face seven teams that qualified for the playoffs in 2023.
Overall, based on winning percentage from last season, the Saints and their NFC South division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, have the easiest schedules in 2024.
Tickets will soon go on sale for these highly anticipated games.
The Who Dat Nation can head to these websites to snag tickets once they drop.
Saints season ticket holders can get information on their tickets here.
2024 Saints Schedule:
Sep. 8 Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers
Sep. 15 Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys
Sep. 22 Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sep. 29 Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons
Oct. 7 Week 5: at Kansas City Chiefs (Monday Night Football)
Oct. 13 Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Oct. 17 Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos (Thursday Night Football)
Oct. 27 Week 8: at Los Angeles Chargers
Nov. 3 Week 9: at Carolina Panthers
Nov. 10 Week 10: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Nov. 17 Week 11: vs. Cleveland Browns
Nov. 24 Week 12: Bye Week
Dec. 1 Week 13: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Dec. 8 Week 14: at New York Giants
Dec. 15 Week 15: vs. Washington Commanders
Dec. 23 Week 16: at Green Bay Packers (Monday Night Football)
Dec. 29 Week 17: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Jan. 4 or 5 Week 18: at Tampa Bay Bucs
Saints on 6 Primetime game schedule:
The Black & Gold will play in prime time three times, including games at Green Bay and Kansas City and at home in the Caesars Superdome against former New Orleans head coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos.
The first game will air on Oct. 7 for Monday Night Football. This game will pit the Saints against the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
This is the first time the teams will face off in Arrowhead since 2016. The Chiefs last played the Saints in New Orleans in 2020.
The second game will be the biggest game of the season, with former New Orleans Saints Hhad coach Sean Payton returning to the Dome with his Broncos.
The last time the Saints hosted them was in 2016.
The game will be Oct. 17 for Thursday Night Football.
The last Primetime game will be later in the season against the Green Bay Packers in famed Lambeau Field.
The game will be on Monday Night on Dec. 23.
The WDSU Sports Team, along with analysts Jim Mora and James Hurst, will provide insight and analysis you won't find anywhere else.
About Game On:
Game On is a half-hour weekly sports show recapping the biggest headlines and looking ahead at the biggest stories in local sports with a strong emphasis on the New Orleans Saints.
Each week WDSU analyst Jim Mora and James Hurst will join the conversation with insight you won't find anywhere else.
Game On airs at 11 p.m. every Sunday only on WDSU.