The NFL season is officially underway after Wednesday’s game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks got things kicked off. Thursday, you can throw another shrimp on the barbie because there’s more opening week football coming your way. But if you’re reading this, it’s easy to assume you’re most excited for a game taking place at 1 p.m. ET at Ford Field.
Welcome back, football. We’ve been waiting for you.
This week, we had the pleasure of connecting with Nic Jennings, a writer for Canal
Street Chronicles, to give us some insight into who these New Orleans Saints are heading into 2026. We learned what Tyler Shough needs to do to take the next step in his development, which skill position players are going to step up in the case of injuries, and what the defensive line is capable of doing—and much more.
1. The Saints are entering Year 2 under Kellen Moore—once a fixture of sports talk radio in Detroit when he was backing up Matthew Stafford. New Orleans looked like they were making some strides late last season, so what are the expectations for Moore in his second season, and where did you hear/see about that momentum from last year carrying over into this summer/preseason for the Saints?
The expectations are definitely higher for Kellen Moore this time around.
The locker room clearly responds to him and never lost morale when things were rocky to start last season, but with winning expectations replacing a rebuilding mindset in 2026, Moore is going to have to keep that fire and intensity to set the tone for the group. The cultural improvement and overall vibe around this team have been undeniable since his arrival in New Orleans, but now they need to turn that into wins.
More importantly, rather than coming straight off a Super Bowl victory, Moore had his first full offseason to build this team his way this time around. I think the personnel changes could be significant. He brought in guys who fit what he wants to do offensively while also adding another strong draft class. And honestly, the NFC South is there for the taking. It’s a relatively weak division, so if New Orleans can get off to a strong start and Moore can keep his team prepared to compete, I think they have a legitimate opportunity to surprise some people.
2. New Orleans will be without a couple of skill position players in Week 1 against Detroit, including Alvin Kamara and first-round pick Jordyn Tyson. What do you think the depth chart looks like at those positions heading into this matchup, and how do you think those players will be utilized?
In terms of the Saints’ pass catchers, expect to see a hefty dose of All-Pro Chris Olave. The duo of Olave and Tyler Shough could truly end up being one of the league’s better pairings based on what we saw from them down the final stretch of last season and throughout this year’s training camp, including three joint practices. Their chemistry only seems to be getting stronger.
Devaughn Vele, who has emerged as one of Shough’s go-to targets over the middle and in contested situations, also finished last season strong, while Juwan Johnson is coming off a career year and can extend drives with his YAC abilities. Then you have rookies Barion Brown and Bryce Lance, who have continued to impress and have given the coaching staff no reason to believe they can’t make an impact this season. The Saints triple-dipped at receiver in the draft, and while Jordyn Tyson is currently out, Brown and Lance both look like potential studs. Brown in particular really looks like a star in the making. At tight end behind Johnson, rookie Oscar Delp and veteran Noah Fant could also find themselves involved.
For the ball carriers, New Orleans obviously added Travis Etienne Jr. this offseason, and I expect to see a ton of him in Detroit. He fits what Kellen Moore wants to do offensively, whether it’s his speed and explosive-play ability or his value as a pass catcher. Kendre Miller also looks to finally be healthy and has always impressed when he’s been on the field. This team is better with him, but he simply hasn’t been able to stay healthy, so I expect him to have a chip on his shoulder and try to make a statement.
With Devin Neal no longer in the picture, keep an eye on Audric Estime as well. He’s taken advantage of every opportunity he’s been given and really finished last season on a strong note. He could be another player who earns a bigger role than expected.
3. Losing Bryan Bresee to a torn ACL on the first day of training camp is a tough blow for the interior of that defensive line. Who are some of the players New Orleans will turn to in his absence, and what is your level of confidence in that group coming into Week 1?
It is definitely a tough blow for both the player and the organization. That said, New Orleans will turn to veterans Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd and John Ridgeway, as well as 2025 third-round pick Vernon Broughton, who played just one game last season before suffering a season-ending injury.
But a guy I’ll have my eye on is rookie second-round pick Christen Miller, who really stood out during the preseason. His physicality could be a difference-maker for this group.
In terms of my confidence in the unit as a whole, it’s certainly not as high as some of the other groups across the roster. But the Saints invested a third- and second-round pick in interior defensive linemen in back-to-back drafts, so they’re banking on at least one of those young guys developing into a significant contributor.
4. For the first time in what seems like a long time, the Saints seem to have a viable plan at quarterback with Tyler Shough. What’s the next step in Shough’s development, how quickly do you think he can get there, and what are your expectations for him in this matchup against the Lions?
The next step for Shough is to prove that this isn’t just a fluke and that he can continue this trajectory on a consistent basis. We’ve seen the arm talent, athleticism and ability to make big-time throws in big-time moments. We’ve also seen how his teammates have gravitated toward his leadership and initiative, as well as his workout retreats with his receivers and overall time spent around the facility. Now it’s about putting all of that together for four quarters and continuing to improve while producing at a high level.
I think he can get there pretty quickly. He’s already shown that he can handle adversity and build momentum, so I’m expecting him to look confident in Detroit on Sunday. Facing a guy like Aidan Hutchinson in the season opener will be a tough task, but I’d like to see Shough play with the confidence he’s always shown, take what’s there, avoid turnover-worthy throws and make a big play or two when the opportunities come. If he can do that, I think he can get the season off to a really strong start.
5. FanDuel Sportsbook has the Lions as 6.5-point favorites over the Saints for this Week 1 matchup in Detroit. Does that spread feel too large, too little, or just about right? What do you think about the Saints’ chances at pulling off an upset?
I’d say I feel like the line is a bit large, but I would agree that the Lions should be the favorites to win this game.
That said, I wouldn’t rule out the Saints pulling off that upset. This team is hungry and ready to prove that they mean business.
Personally, I’m going to predict Detroit comes away with this one, but I expect New Orleans to put up a fight.
