IRVINE, Calif. – Rookie offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga was the second New Orleans Saints starter to suffer from back soreness during training camp practice this week.
Fuaga left practice Thursday at Cal-Irvine before any team drills were held; running back Alvin Kamara left practice early Tuesday due to back discomfort.
Fuaga’s absence is probably the more critical of the two, as while he seems to have adapted easily from playing right tackle in college to playing left tackle with the Saints, he and the offensive line still need to work on playing together as well as possible before the regular season begins. The Saints will play their second preseason game against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday. Fuaga started against Arizona and stayed on the field even after the other starters went to the sidelines after the first two drives.
On Thursday, Landon Young stepped in as left tackle when Fuaga left.
“It looked to me like he had stretched his back a little bit before practice,” coach Dennis Allen said of Fuaga. “I would say if he’s physically healthy and able to play, he’ll play. And if he’s not, then he won’t. But right now I really have no idea. The only thing I know is he’s got a little bit of back pain.”
AUSTIN’S POWERS: Arguably the best catch of the day came from rookie receiver Kevin Austin Jr., who caught a windowpane throw from quarterback Derek Carr with all hands from the sideline between a couple of defenders for a third down. Austin was flagged on the long pass at the 3 out of bounds and Carr then threw a touchdown to tight end Foster Moreau as the offense converted a touchdown drive while trailing 13-7. The extra point gave the unit a 14-13 victory.
Allen said Austin deservedly received attention during camp.
“He certainly made some plays, the play he made today was a standout and great play that certainly gets everyone’s attention,” Allen said. “He had to play a lot of positions in the game (against Arizona) and I think some wires were a little shorted. I want to see him always know what to do, how to do it and be able to execute at a high level. I like some of the spectacular plays I see and like a lot of these young players, I want to see a little consistency.”
LESS IS MORE: The Saints shortened practice on Thursday after working very hard on Wednesday.
“We were intentionally a little shorter out here,” Allen said. “I think our guys did everything they could and practiced with the right intensity, the right effort and the right attitude. So we took it a little bit shorter today and we’ll take it a little bit shorter again (Friday). We did a good job here.”
Home is where the heart is: Quarterback Jake Haener is from Danville, Calif., less than 50 miles from Sunday’s preseason game against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. But while Haener is excited about his homecoming, there’s one thing that excites him even more.
“I’m excited to get back to the Bay, but I’m excited to get back to Louisiana,” he said. The Saints will return to New Orleans after the game and hold the first of two public practices at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium on Tuesday.
“I also told Derek (Carr) that it feels like I haven’t been there in two or three months,” Haener said. “Get back in front of the fans, do some open practices, let them feel the energy and what this offense can bring. Just tell them we appreciate them, tell them we’re excited to be back and we’re excited to win some games.”
