What happened to Trai Turner? Here's the latest on the Saints OL's injury.

Hello, hello!

This is Terrin Waack checking in for the Saturday edition of the Saints Insider newsletter. The date is July 29, 2023.

Today is also the Saints’ Day 4 of training camp. Like Friday, fans are welcome. Practice starts at 9 a.m. Tickets are free and on sale at 10 a.m. each day on the Saints’ website.

If going, be prepared: It’s HOT out there. AccuWeather says today’s temperature high is 95 degrees and the real-feel estimate is 109 degrees.

Well, Day 3 coverage is complete, so let’s jump right in.

OUT SO SOON?

Offensive lineman Trai Turner signed with this Saints literally this past Tuesday, and on Friday, he injured his knee. Dennis Allen said right after practice: “We’re in the process of determining exactly what that is.” Well, ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reporter Turner tore his quadriceps and is out for the season. 

Turner is LSU product and New Orleans native. He went to St. Augustine High School. This was a homecoming for him, though he knew he still needed to earn a spot on the roster by proving himself throughout training camp.

This Saints Insider’s take: I don't really have a take, per se. It’s always a bummer when players get injured, even when not a fan of the team. Though, if you are a Saints fan, you’re likely hoping this is the first and last injury of the 2023 season after how last year played out. Also, he's a New Orleans native, so this must sting even more. (And I said I didn't have a take... Oops!)

DUNCAN DELIVERS DEETS

Deets. Details. Same thing.

After just two days of training camp, columnist Jeff Duncan already have multiple hot takes. His Friday morning column went a little something like this:

What I liked…

What I loved…

What I loathed…

Ooo, an alliteration! Well done, Duncan.

Anyway, I’ll give you a preview on what he discusses — but obvi not in order so you don't know which topic fell under what category.

The three areas he discusses: Derek Carr, James Washington and no pads.

OF COURSE, OBSERVATIONS

Beat writer Luke Johnson is back at it again with his training camp observations: Day 3 edition.

I’ll get one of the obvious out of the way, but in a Cliffs Notes version. There were two offensive linemen missing from Friday's practice. No, one was not Trevor Penning, who was absent Thursday. He was back in action. Friday’s absentees were Cesar Ruiz and Ryan Ramczyk.

The good news is, neither is injured.

What Allen said: “There are several guys, whether it be due to previous injury, injury history or whatever the case may be, where we’ll have some days where they may be limited or may actually even be off. That was the case for those two players.”

That's due to the heat mainly. Because remember, two players were unable to finish practice Thursday for that reason. Better to be safe than sorry, right?

Like I said at the top of the newsletter: It’s HOT out there.

LONGTIME LONG SNAPPER

Quick news piece for you: Long snapper Zach Wood signed a four-year extension with the Saints on Friday. Wood has been with the organization since 2017 and played in every game since then. 

PERSONAL NOTE

All right, ladies and gentlemen. I won’t get too sentimental. But that was my last “Hello, hello!” above. Friday was my final day with The Times-Picayune. My next destination will be announced via Twitter (@TerrinWaack) at some point in the very near future.

It has been a pleasure chatting with y’all, and I appreciate each and every one of you who reads our content. Duncan, Johnson and columnist Rod Walker are the best, so be sure to keep up with all their Saints content.

And just because I can, I’m going to share my favorite story I wrote: Saints tight end Juwan Johnson and wife, Chanen, open up about emotional journey to their rainbow baby.

I actually talked to Juwan on Friday, and the happy and healthy baby — named J'adore Blessing Johnson — is almost three weeks old. 

OK, I’ll quit prolonging the inevitable now. Thanks for reading! Tell your family, friends and foes to subscribe to the Saints Insider newsletter and to stay up to date on Nola.com’s dedicated Saints page for all the latest and greatest.

One final time from yours truly: Waack out.