Saints second-round draft pick sidelined at rookie minicamp

TL;DR

Saints second-round draft pick Christen Miller did not participate in rookie minicamp due to a maintenance plan, not an injury. He is present at the facility and involved in meetings with coaches.

Key points

Christen Miller did not practice at rookie minicamp
His absence is due to a maintenance plan, not an injury
He is participating in meetings at the team facility
Saints head coach Kellen Moore confirmed Miller's status
Training camp begins in late July

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New Orleans SaintsChristen Miller

Saints second-round draft pick sidelined at rookie minicamp

A crowd of 55 players got to work at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Friday morning, but just 54 of them hit the practice field during the first day of rookie minicamp. New Orleans Saints second-round pick Christen Miller, the big defensive tackle from Georgia, was the only player on that roster who wasn't spotted in drills. There was some speculation that his lack of a contract could explain it (all seven of the Saints' other draft picks signed on Friday), but that's not it. Head coach Kellen Moore addressed Miller's absence during his Friday media availability after practice.

"He's fine, just a couple of these guys you put in different levels as far as the maintenance plan just to make sure these guys are ramping up the right way. And so that's part of the process as these guys come in, is just checking on them from a body standpoint. And so he wasn't out there necessarily doing any field work, but he'll be fine," Moore said. He clarified that Miller isn't dealing with an injury from his time at Georgia, adding "Just checking him out, making sure he's good, body wise it's just like, 'Hey let's slow this thing down for him and put him in a good position to get ramped up.'"

Moore did say that Miller is present at the team facility and participating in meetings with coaches, and he stressed that this is only a minor issue. The rookie defensive lineman has been checking in almost daily from workouts on social media so it's possible he overdid it in the weight room (or came across those glazed beignets he said could be a problem). Whether it's a conditioning problem or a minor injury, it doesn't sound like he'll be sidelined for very long. Fans should get a good look at both Miller and the team's when the Saints kick off training camp in late July.