Days away from the New Orleans Saints’ 2026 training camp, a handful of players are clawing their way back from brutal 2025 injuries. Their returns are setting the stage for intense competition. These guys spent last season on injured reserve, but now they are healthy and ready to prove they belong. Every rep, every drill, is going to matter.
Wideouts Ready to Battle For Their Spot
Receiver Bub Means got dealt the worst hand last year. A brutal ankle injury in the preseason just straight-up shelved him for the entire 2025 season. Gut punch! But now? He’s grinding. Means has been tearing it up in workouts with QB Tyler Shough, even in “spring” sessions. This dude’s a physical freak: 6-foot-1, 212 pounds, and he runs a 4.4. That height-weight-speed combo is unmatched on this roster. Still, he’s facing a ton of competition for that final squad in September. Every play counts.
Then there’s Ja’Lynn Polk. The Saints snagged him in a preseason trade with the Patriots, but his 2025 was a wash, recovering from a shoulder injury picked up at Patriots training camp. Tough break, right? But Polk’s a worker. He’s been busting his butt, not just recovering, but also building rapport with his new QB, Tyler Shough. He was even one of the wideouts grinding with Drew Brees in San Diego! Maybe that fresh start is exactly what this guy needed.
Defensive Backs Looking For Big Returns
Flipping to defense, we got cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. He didn’t play for the Saints last year, spending all of 2025 recovering from an Achilles surgery after going down early in Cleveland Browns training camp. Achilles, that’s no joke. But he’s healthy now, and he’s been taking every rep whenever the Saints are on the field. This guy could seriously push Quincy Riley for snaps in that starting lineup across from Kool-Aid McKinstry. Coach needs depth, and Emerson Jr. is fighting for it.
And how about Julian Blackmon? This safety started Week 1 last year, staying on the field for every one of those 66 defensive snaps, plus three more on special teams. But after that game, he felt discomfort, and boom: torn labrum. He’s had labrum injuries before, but this one needed season-ending surgery. The good news? He’s back in the starting lineup, healthy and ready to go. That’s a massive boost for the secondary. They’ll need him locked in.
Broughton’s Shot at Redemption
Finally, we gotta talk about defensive tackle Vernon Broughton. He was a healthy scratch for the season opener in 2025. Then, in Week 2, he finally got on the field for 24 snaps and boom, season-ending knee injury. Brutal luck for a rookie third-round pick trying to make his mark. The Saints have huge hopes for him in Brandon Staley’s defense, and he’s expecting a bigger role in Year 2. But the pressure is on: he has to prove that injury is totally behind him.
This training camp is going to be a proving ground for all these guys. Who makes the squad? Who locks down a starting role? It’s all on the line as they chase redemption and try to make an impact in the 2026 season. Get ready for some serious competition!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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