The New Orelans Saints held their first training camp practice session in pads on Monday, but they weren’t at full strength. Four players were absent, including starting left guard Andrus Peat, co-starting tight end Josh Hill, undrafted rookie cornerback Tino Ellis, and veteran free-agent pickup Anthony Chickillo.
However, Hill was the only player Payton offered an explanation for, saying that the tight end has missed time with a “tweak.” Whether the other players were dealing with recent injuries, personal issues, or the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol remains to be seen.
Hill’s loss is bigger than it appears; he’s one of Payton’s favorite players on the roster.