This story was originally published by Dead Spin
The New Orleans Saints’ top draft pick this year, offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga, missed practice Friday because of back tightness but should be ready for the regular season, coach Dennis Allen said.
Fuaga had left practice Thursday in Irvine, Calif., before any team drills took place. The rookie has been starting at left tackle after playing right tackle at Oregon State, where he was a first-team All-America selection in 2023. Landon Young filled in at left tackle for Fuaga on Thursday.
“Looked to me like prior to even starting practice, looked to me like he was kind of stretching his back out a little bit,” Allen said of Fuaga on Thursday. “I would say this, I would say if he is a healthy body and capable of playing, then he’ll play in the game. And if he’s not, he won’t. But I really have no idea right now. The only thing I know is that he had some back tightness.”
The Saints selected Fuaga with the 14th overall pick in April.
Wide receiver and kick and punt returner Rashid Shaheed also didn’t practice Friday because of a toe or foot injury, Allen said.
Shaheed had been dealing with a hamstring injury before recently returning to full practice. Allen did not indicate if Shaheed would play in the Saints’ preseason game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.
Shaheed, 25, has caught 74 passes for 1,207 yards and seven touchdowns in 27 games (14 starts) in two seasons with New Orleans. He went to the Pro Bowl and was selected first-team All-Pro in 2023 as a punt returner. He returned 25 punts for 339 yards, a 13.6-yard average, including one touchdown.
The Saints open the regular season Sept. 8 in New Orleans against the Carolina Panthers.
–Field Level Media
