This Sunday, the New Orleans Saints will open the 2026 NFL preseason on the road against the Detroit Lions.
The player to watch finished his rookie season on fire and is looking to carry that momentum into his first season as the clear cut starter: QB Tyler Shough.
Shough gave Saints fans every reason to believe they may have found their long-term answer at quarterback. Now, he has to carry that confidence into his second season and avoid the infamous sophomore slump.
This Sunday in Detroit, the biggest
thing to watch will be how comfortable Shough looks running the offense with a full offseason under his belt. Considering what we’ve seen from Shough this offseason, whether it be his work ethic or him consistently building chemistry with his teammates, New Orleans should expect him to play with more confidence and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.
A strong performance against the Lions would give Shough and the Saints something to build on immediately. More importantly, it could reinforce the belief that the production he showed toward the end of last season wasn’t a fluke.
Shough doesn’t need to be perfect. He needs to look like a guy who is comfortable running the offense while trusting his supporting cast. A guy that has a better understanding of the intricacies of the NFL.
If he can start the season playing with the same confidence he showed down the stretch of his rookie year, the Saints could have something special brewing.
For Shough, Week 1 isn’t just the beginning of another season.
It’s the first chance to show that last year’s momentum was only the beginning.
