Winners and losers from the first week of Saints training camp

On Monday, the New Orleans Saints will put on pads for the first time, as they start their second week of training camp. The first week was an eventful one for the team, with players impressing, others going down with injury, and some being released and signed.

Just a few practices into camp, the Saints have a ways to go before things are all sorted out for the regular season. However, enough has already happened for some takeaways— specifically, some early winners and losers.

Winners from first week of Saints training camp

WR Mason Tipton

One player that has seemingly made a big play every day of camp is Mason Tipton. The undrafted rookie has built an early rapport with fellow rookie Spencer Rattler, as the two already have multiple highlights with each other in a couple of days of practice.

On a Saints team where Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed as the only two established receivers, Tipton has a chance to carve out a role for himself if he can continue to impress in camp.

RB Jordan Mims

Jordan Mims came to New Orleans as a rookie last season after being waived by the Buffalo Bills. He spent his rookie season on the practice squad and he’s now trying to make the regular-season roster. So far, he’s off to a great start.

Mims entered camp as the fourth running back on the depth chart, but a hamstring injury to Kendre Miller on the first day opened the door for Mims to move up the chart. He has capitalized on that opportunity, impressing during his time on the field.

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

Kool-Aid McKinstry was the second-round pick for the Saints in this year’s draft, and everyone was excited about what he’d bring to an already elite secondary. An offseason foot surgery delayed his practice debut, but he’s now on the field with his teammates.

An injury to star cornerback Marshon Lattimore has led to McKinstry taking first-team reps, and the rookie corner is already showing why he was one of the best prospects in his class. Lattimore will surely reclaim his spot once healthy, but McKinstry is showing he deserves to be on the floor.

Losers from first week of Saints training camp

RB Kendre Miller

On the first day of practice, second-year running back Kendre Miller left early with a hamstring injury. Immediately following the practice, head coach Dennis Allen sent miller a stern message that he needs to figure out how to stay healthy because he can’t make the team from the training room.

Miller’s young career has been all promise and injuries. Now, with Jordan Mims capitalizing on his absence, his spot on the team could be threatened. Miller will need to heal up and impress once he’s back on the field to turn his camp around.

CB Marshon Lattimore

Marshon Lattimore suffered a hip flexor injury and has missed some days of practice. While the injury doesn’t seem to be serious, and won’t lead to him losing an opportunity like it could do Miller, it’s not a good sign as far as trends go.

In the last two seasons, Lattimore has played a total of 17 games, dealing with different injuries in each season. The veteran corner understands the injuries have shifted the perception of him throughout the league, and he’s determined to prove he’s still a top corner in this league. However, he needs to be healthy to do that. This early camp injury has everyone afraid this season could be more of the same for Lattimore.

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