New Orleans Saints wide receiver Barion Brown (19) scores a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
ARLINGTON, Texas — Special teams coordinator Phil Galiano must have been pretty excited when the New Orleans Saints drafted [Barion Brown](https://www.nola.com/tncms/asset/editorial/ebf9afb3-64c2-42d7-9dbb-413259803e64/). The Saints, after all, have rarely used draft selections on return specialists. And at Kentucky and LSU, that was Brown’s specialty. With his 4.4 speed, the 22-year-old returned an SEC-record six kickoff return touchdowns.
So imagine telling Galiano on draft day that the preseason would come and go — without Brown taking a single return on kickoffs.
The rookie proved himself to be too valuable elsewhere.
Friday’s 27-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys was the latest example of Brown’s diverse skill set. Even when Brown did not have a catch, the wide receiver made an impact in the run game. He broke off gains of 12 and 7 yards on jet sweeps — the latter of which resulted in a touchdown.
Brown looked more than ready for the regular season to begin, but he wasn’t the only wide receiver to appear that way. Bryce Lance, picked two rounds before Brown, also looked productive, accounting for two of Spencer Rattler’s eight completions in the first half that resulted in 28 yards.
The outings were an encouraging sign for the Saints. Throughout the summer, Lance and Brown were pleasant surprises — and their flashes in training camp translated to the preseason games.
The two will have to continue to prove it when the season starts for real, but at the very least, Lance and Brown look as if they can contribute while Jordyn Tyson — another rookie receiver — is sidelined for the first two months with a hamstring injury.
“Bryce and Barion, just steady plays, are good examples of taking advantage of opportunities,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “(They) probably had less snaps early in camp and they just keep taking advantage. … The biggest thing is just the mental part. These guys are talented football players. We drafted them because of that. We know that.
“It’s their ability to go in there, execute and handle all what we’re asking them to do. I’m just really happy for those guys.”
The little details are what will help Brown and Lance see the field. Against Dallas, they appeared to ace them. Take Brown’s touchdown, for instance. As the sixth-rounder got the ball in space, Lance blocked Cowboys safety Markquese Bell to the ground in order to clear a lane for Brown.
Then, when Rattler rushed in for an 8-yard touchdown a little later on, it was Brown who delivered a crack block to help seal the edge and prevent the oncoming cornerback from disrupting the play.
Asked about that block, Brown lit up — so much so he dapped up the reporter for the inquiry.
“Yeah, you see that?!” Brown said. “Thank you! Man, it just goes into playing for one another. I know they love to see me win. And I 100% love to see them win, so anytime I got to do some dirty work, or anything involving that, I do it with a smile on my face so I know them boys will do it for me.”
In training camp, both receivers showed why the Saints drafted them. Brown had a week straight in which he lit up New Orleans’ secondary, particularly as a deep threat. Then, Lance emerged as a steady red-zone target. He excelled in a joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams, catching 20- and 10-yard touchdowns on what coincidentally was his 24th birthday.
The Saints, too, needed at least one of them to step up.
While Tyson going down was a disappointment — especially given the first-rounder’s injury concerns coming into the draft — New Orleans also saw veteran Ja’Lynn Polk unexpectedly retire last month. Combined, the absences created vacancies for a third and fourth receiver, which Lance and Brown look ready to fill.
“Obviously, Jordyn is a tremendous player and he’s going to make a lot of plays for us in the future,” Lance said. “I think me and Barion just focus on whatever the task is at hand. If that’s making a block, going to catch a ball… Anything to help contribute.”
The pair also may have more to give than what unfolded in the preseason. Neither caught the kind of bombs that have dazzled in practice, though Brown did haul in a nice 28-yard strike in New Orleans’ exhibition opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
And for Brown, the Saints could still ultimately experiment with the 22-year-old as a returner — even without using him on kickoffs this preseason. New Orleans trotted out Brown twice on punt returns, although neither was very effective. Brown’s first attempt, three weeks ago against Jacksonville, lost 7 yards. Against Dallas, Brown curiously hauled in a ball on a fair catch, despite appearing to have plenty of space.
Then again, perhaps the Saints simply want to save Brown's kickoff returns for the regular season.
“(The coaches) told me not this week,” Brown said when asked about kick returning. “I’m ready. Whenever that time comes, then I’ll be happy and I’m ready for it.”