New Orleans Saints 2025 training camp update: Davon Godchaux vows defensive dominance while the team stays healthy, a key focus for coach Kellen Moore.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Six days into training camp, and the biggest news out of Metairie might be the news that isn't happening. Unlike past seasons marred by early injuries, the New Orleans Saints are emerging from the first week remarkably healthy, a testament to a renewed focus on player care under Head Coach Kellen Moore. While the training staff keeps the players fresh, the defensive line is getting hungry, with veteran Davon Godchaux declaring their intent to be the team's 'tone setters' for the 2025 season.
I'm excited to set the tone... let them know that New Orleans Saints football is back and we going to get back by being a team on offense, defense, and special teams.
The Saints' training room has been refreshingly quiet, a stark contrast to the MASH units of previous camps. The lone blemish is a minor right hamstring stretch for safety JT Gray, who slipped on Day 5. Coach Kellen Moore listed Gray as 'week-to-week' but noted he was already back for walkthroughs, a positive sign. Moore credited the team's proactive approach: 'We've provided them enough time to go through the prehab, go through the rehab... I feel like our guys are feeling good.' This commitment to keeping players on the field could be the team's most significant advantage heading into the season.
While the coaching staff focuses on health, the defense is focused on hitting. Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux made it clear that the D-line's priority is stopping the run above all else. 'You got to stop the run first to have fun,' he told reporters, emphasizing an old-school, physical mindset. Godchaux described the unit as the 'tone setters' for the entire team, responsible for establishing a dominant physical presence from the first snap. This ground-and-pound defensive philosophy aims to put the Saints' offense in favorable positions and wear down opponents over four quarters.
As of Wednesday, the Saints' front office remained quiet, with no new trades, signings, or roster moves reported. This stability is a vote of confidence in the current 90-man roster, allowing players to build chemistry without the distraction of constant turnover. With the team currently holding a 0-0 record but sitting atop ESPN's early NFC South projections, the organization seems content to let the current squad compete and prove themselves through camp and the preseason.
With a healthy roster and a defense chomping at the bit to establish dominance, the early days of camp have been a resounding success. The foundation is being laid, brick by brick, with a clear focus on fundamentals and player care. Now, all eyes turn to the upcoming preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, which will be the first real test of whether this controlled intensity can translate into live-game results.
