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Kellen Moore Reveals Why Saints Trust Asim Richards vs. Raiders' Pass Rush
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- Kellen Moore Reveals Why Saints Trust Asim Richards vs. Raiders' Pass Rush
Asim Richards didn't get a week of practice to get ready for his first real test at left tackle. He got a second half in Baltimore . Saints coach Kellen Moore liked what he saw, and that's a big reason New Orleans feels comfortable handing Richards the job with Kelvin Banks Jr. out.
"He's gotten better through the offseason. I thought he hopped in there and battled," Moore said of Richards . "He's a steady player. He doesn't get too high, doesn't get too low." Moore added that Richards has "prepared as if he's ready to play every single week, and you saw that by the way he handled that situation [in] Baltimore and hopping in there," per ESPN's Katherine Terrell .
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Raiders bring the NFL's best pass rush
Sep 15, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) sacks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images
The timing couldn't be much worse. Banks, the No. 9 overall pick in 2025, suffered a severe high ankle sprain in the 24-17 win over the Ravens and will undergo surgery . Richards, a fourth-year lineman, has just five career starts, and his sixth comes against a defense that leads the league in pressure rate (50 percent) and sacks (eight).
Maxx Crosby has 11 pressures despite facing double teams on more than 60 percent of his pass rushes, and the Raiders got to Justin Herbert 17 times last week behind a line featuring Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater . ESPN's Seth Walder predicted Malcolm Koonce posts a pass rush win rate of 25 percent or higher with a backup lined up across from him.
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Tyler Shough has already been sacked eight times in two games, so the Saints can't afford much more leakage on his blind side. The good news for New Orleans is that pressure hasn't rattled him. Shough has thrown for 303 yards with a 100.2 passer rating under pressure over the past two weeks, and he has been at his best late in games.
The Saints are 3-point favorites at home, and Moore sounds convinced Richards is up for it. "He'll do some good stuff," Moore said. Sunday will show whether that holds up against Crosby and company for four quarters, not just two.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
