METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) – Saints right tackle Taliese Fuaga had to overcome a lot in 2025. He missed four games and played through injuries – including two high ankle sprains.

“It was a good learning experience because at first it wasn’t the best feeling, and I was down,” Fuaga said. “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.”

The way Fuaga responded during those tough times impressed head coach Kellen Moore. And the Saints’ second-year coach said it’ll help him grow.

“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.”

The hope for Fuaga is that confidence helps him take a step forward in year three. He’s doing whatever it takes, and for the first time, he spent the entire offseason in New Orleans.

“Trying to sacrifice a lot to be here to really hone in on my technique, lifting, and all of that,” Fuaga said.

Fuaga is putting in the work. And based on what he has seen from the rest of the offensive line, he’s optimistic about that unit as a whole this year.  

“Ces (Cesar Ruiz) and Erik (McCoy), they are already vet guys and know what they’re doing next to each other. Me and Ces are still building that chemistry next to each other. Kelvin (Banks), man, he’s a very polished dude already enough and I like it because we’re able to talk about technique and stuff like that. David (Edwards) is a really good vet out there. He is smart and has been in different systems, so to have him out there and be able to ask him a bunch of questions is cool,” Fuaga said.

The offensive line will continue to work on its chemistry when the Saints report to training camp on July 28.

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