Only 10 players missing from Saints’ voluntary OTA…

Only 10 players missing from Saints’ voluntary OTA practice sessions

This is a good sign. The New Orleans Saints kicked off organized team activities on Tuesday, with only ten (really nine) players missing from their 89-man roster. That’s a big shift after 17 players were absent for the start of voluntary practices this time last year. 87% of the team reported for work in Sean Payton’s final year as head coach, dropping to 81% in Dennis Allen’s first year on the job. Now they’re at about 89%, depending on whether you count Demario Davis (more on him in a minute).

Having guys buying in and busy working on improvement this early is important. The Saints have posted back-to-back disappointing seasons and they need to dial in, focus, and put in the work to get this team where they want to go. Respected team leaders like Cameron Jordan and Tyrann Mathieu being at the facility working with first-year rookies means a lot.

Still, these are voluntary workouts, and a lot of guys are still out managing injuries. Others are well-established veterans who don’t really need to be around for non-contact drills in May. Some may have other commitments; Jarvis Landry was absent last year so he could accompany his 5-year-old daughter to her first day of school. Everyone will be there when mandatory practices start in June.

Here are the players who were not spotted at Saints OTAs on Tuesday, May 23:

Demario Davis

NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill said Davis has been at the facility for other practices and activities, but he wasn’t available on Tuesday.

Michael Thomas (injury)

Both Dennis Allen and Mickey Loomis have said Thomas is expected to participate in training camp, but they aren’t rushing him back into action for these practices in May.

Andrus Peat (injury)

Peat’s year ended with an ankle injury, and he may not have been ready to return from it just yet. It kept him out of their last two games.

Ryan Ramczyk

Ramczyk has missed time with shoulder and elbow injuries in recent years, and the Saints limited his practice reps last season to manage a lingering knee issue. His absence may be related to that.