Spencer Rattler to start for Saints in preseason opener vs. Chargers
Published:
Spencer Rattler will start at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday when they play the Los Angeles Chargers.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore made the announcement Friday evening after the team wrapped up practice. Rattler, a second-year man from South Carolina, made 6 starts for the Saints last season. He has been in competition with second-round draft pick Tyler Shough and third-year man Jake Haener for the full-time starting job this offseason.
Shough will be QB2 and Haener will be QB3 on Sunday.
“We had a couple different options,” Moore said. “I think certainly (Rattler) has earned his way as he’s gone through this.”
Moore said there will “probably be half a dozen” players on both sides of the ball who will not play in the game. Asked if most of the starting offensive line would be in place for Rattler, Moore said, “We’ll see,” adding that a rotation is likely and some veterans might be rested.
And, when asked for clarification, Moore also acknowledged that the quarterback competition remains ongoing.
“It’ll be another piece to the puzzle as we go through this. Obviously an important piece — they’re games and there’s tackling and there’s sacks and all the things you’ve got to deal with when a game is full-go. It will be a great evaluation piece for us. By no means is it any bigger than the collection of all these practices that have occurred.”
Rattler threw for 1,317 yards as a rookie, completing 57% of his passes with 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
After Sunday’s game against the Bolts, the Saints host the Jacksonville Jaguars (Aug. 17) and Denver Broncos (Aug. 23) to close out the preseason.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
