New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga switched from left to right tackle in his second season, delivering promising results while battling multiple injuries. Fuaga allowed 28 pressures and four sacks across 13 starts. He sat out Week 3 due to a knee injury and a back flare-up, Weeks 10 and 12 with a high-ankle sprain, and Week 14 due to a high-ankle sprain to the other ankle.
Now healthy, Taliese Fuaga aims to improve in his third season. Additionally, the former first-round pick has a fully-guaranteed 5th year option for the 2028 season with the decision due next May. If Fuaga continues to improve, the Saints will likely pick up the option.
The New Orleans Saints tackle aims for growth in Year 3
Sep 14, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga (75) blocks against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
In an interview with Jon Sokoloff of WGNO,Taliese Fuaga reflected on his second season in which he battled multiple injuries. He noted that Erik McCoy comes into meetings with a good attitude whether he’s healthy or not and wants to adopt the same mentality. Additionally, Fuaga shared that he will remain in New Orleans for the full offseason for the first time, emphasizing the sacrifice while focusing on improving his technique and lifting.
“It was a good learning experience because at first it wasn’t the best feeling, and I was down,” Fuaga said, via Sokoloff. “Guys like Erik McCoy (center), you know, he’s been through injuries. The way he comes in every day, even if he’s injured or not, he comes in the same way to meetings. He has a good attitude, and it’s a good learning experience for me to learn from that.
“Trying to sacrifice a lot to be here to really hone in on my technique, lifting, and all of that.”
Kellen Moore praised Fuaga’s resilience
“I think anytime you have to go through those, you gain resiliency,” Moore said. “What he had to navigate with injuries, which were kind of some goofy ones throughout the season, getting rolled up in a couple of unique ways. He fought back and found a way to keep playing whenever he could. I think when you go through that and find success on the other end of it, it makes you gain confidence.”
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