Key Takeaways from Thursday, July 24

For the second straight training camp practice, there was full participation, other than Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau who were designated to the PUP (physically unable to perform) list prior to the start of camp. … Two transactions occurred prior to Thursday’s practice, as the Saints signed veterans Julian Blackmon (safety) and Jonathan Bullard (defensive end). Both were in uniform (Blackmon No. 28, Bullard No. 58) and participated in position drills and limited reps in the team portions of practice. … A brief downpour occurred over the Ochsner Sports Performance Center about 10 minutes before the team took the field at about 10 a.m. which made for very steamy conditions on the practice field for the hour and 15-minute session. … Time efficiency continues to be of the essence for Saints Coach Kellen Moore, maximizing the amount of reps during the first two shorter practices. Friday’s practice is scheduled to run 15 minutes longer. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough ran the first team offense in 7-on-7 and team portions Thursday, flipping from Spencer Rattler, who ran the first team Wednesday. Jake Haener has run third team twice now, but Kellen Moore mentioned post practice after film evaluation Haener should get first team opportunities. … In just the second training camp practice the Saints worked on red zone in both 7-on-7 and team. After a little personal research going back through last year’s training camp notes, it wasn’t until Day 8 until we saw any red zone work in Irvine, Calif.

Training camp skirmishes are as old as football itself. They happen all the time. Especially when it’s hot, and tempers run short. It is a tad unusual though to have one just two practices in, but we saw one Thursday on the north field of the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. It occurred in the final team red zone portion of practice in the east end zone. With Jake Haener at quarterback, his third down throw into the end zone was a little behind intended target wide receiver Brandin Cooks with safety Rejzohn Wright on the coverage. As Cooks headed back into the huddle around the 3-yard line words were exchanged, Cooks threw a punch, and within seconds, no less than five black jerseys (defense) surrounded Cooks (wearing a white offense jersey). Center Erik McCoy quickly came in to break it up soon joined by the rest of the offense. Cooler heads then prevailed, and it was over. The entire sequence lasted no longer than 20 seconds, ending as quickly as it began. Post practice Moore didn’t seem concerned at all about it, saying “those things are gonna come up, but sometimes it’s good to get guys to rally together.” Obviously, something that you don’t want to be a theme as training camp starts, but its evident early that this team attitude-wise is ready to get things going in the right direction.