Saints day 3 observations

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The New Orleans Saints were back in action Saturday morning at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie for their third straight day of practice, conducting work outside in front of fans.

The next time fans will be allowed in attendance at training camp practice is Thursday, Aug. 5. There are only seven open practices to fans this year, and there are only five left: Aug. 5, Aug. 6, Aug. 7, Aug. 20 and Aug. 21.

PARTICIPATION
Three players were absent Saturday: veteran cornerback Patrick Robinson, cornerback Grant Haley and rookie tight end Dylan Soehner.

Robinson, who had been taking reps with the ones at outside cornerback, had an excused absence Saturday due to a death in the family. Haley, who has missed all three practices so far during camp, has also had excused absences due to a death in the family.

It is unclear at this time the reasoning behind Soehner's absences on Friday and Saturday.

Defensive end Cameron Jordan was back participating after he seemingly took a rest day Friday.

Kicker Wil Lutz was present but not participating. Lutz is dealing with a groin injury that has him on the non-football injury list, but the Saints are confident he'll return to participating soon.

Additionally, receiver Tommylee Lewis was not present at Saturday's practice after he was signed Friday. But that could be because he hasn't yet arrived to camp.

QUARTERBACKS ROUNDUP
Quarterback Jameis Winston took reps with the ones Saturday, which lines up with what coach Sean Payton said the plan would be, and quarterback Taysom Hill ran with the twos. In a departure from Thursday and Friday, rookie quarterback Ian Book worked with the threes rather than the fours.

Hill went 6-of-7 against the second team. The play of the day came from Hill on a dazzling back-shoulder pass to receiver Marquez Callaway.

Winston went 3-of-7 against the first team. Though, Winston's numbers aren't as bad as they seem on the surface. One incompletion came after receiver Tre'Quan Smith slipped on the grass. Another one came after the receiver, also Smith, caught the ball out of bounds.

DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW
With veteran cornerback Patrick Robinson absent Saturday, Ken Crawley stepped in to take reps with the ones, and he had some dominant plays.

In the first set of team drills, Crawley had a battle with receiver Tre'Quan Smith down the left sideline. Winston threw a 50/50 ball and Smith caught it, but Crawley's defensive positioning on the play had Smith out of bounds. He also had two pass breakups during one-on-one drills over Smith.

The Saints ran with base defense again on Saturday and had a few different players subbing in with the ones.

The first-team linebackers during the first set of team drills were Kaden Elliss, Demario Davis and Zack Baun, and then during the second team drill period, the Saints ran with rookie Pete Werner in place of Baun.

Both Baun and Werner have gotten looks with the ones during camp at the weakside (or will) linebacker position, so this is a position battle worth paying attention to, too.

SPECIAL TEAMS SHOWCASE
Second-year Blake Gillikin punted 11 times on Saturday and was consistent throughout, hitting booming punts throughout his reps regardless of simulated situation.

The Saints seem to be rotating Gillikin and rookie punter Nolan Cooney by the day. Cooney handled punting duties Friday.

Four players worked on punt return: All-Pro returner Deonte Harris, receiver Marquez Callaway, former Tulane receiver Jalen McCleskey, undrafted rookie receiver Easop Winston.

No kicking work yet, as kicker Wil Lutz remains on the non-football injury list.

NUMBERS GAME
Running back Alvin Kamara wore No. 6 at practice on Saturday, paying homage to the number he wore in college rather than the No. 41 he's worn since arriving in New Orleans.

The previous No. 6, Thomas Morstead — the Saints' longtime punter who was released this offseason — said on Twitter that Kamara's wearing of No. 6 was a "strong choice!"

Unfortunately for single-digit number fans, Kamara's time in the No. 6 jersey will be short lived. No. 6 will be worn by receiver Tommylee Lewis once he reports to training camp, according to the roster

In good news for single-digit fans... Receiver Marquez Callaway has officially switched from No. 12 to No. 1, and he wore the new threads in practice Saturday.

PLAY OF THE DAY
In the final team session, quarterback Taysom Hill made a back shoulder throw to receiver Marquez Callaway, who caught the ball roughly 15 yards downfield. Callaway made the catch over rookie cornerback Paulson Adebo, who primarily worked with the second-team defense.

UP NEXT
The Saints have a day off Sunday and will back at practice Monday, Aug. 2. They'll have one more session in shells before hitting it in full pads Tuesday.