The New Orleans Saints are still deep into an offseason quarterback competition, but we might be getting a glimpse of the future on Sunday.
Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough will start against the Jaguars in Week 2 of the preseason, head coach Kellen Moore announced on Saturday. Spencer Rattler, who started the preseason opener, will be next off the bench.
"We want to give these guys as many opportunities as they can because they’re younger guys, they need experience, they need exposure," Moore said after Thursday's joint practice with the Rams. "There’s some things they’re doing maybe for the first time, the second time, so we just need time on task for them.”
It remains to be seen exactly how long each quarterback will go as well as how many starters will be in the game. Rattler took the first five series last week in L.A., with Shough taking over for a 2-minute drill to end the first half and playing well into the fourth quarter before Jake Haener took over.
Moore wouldn't commit to when a decision would be made in the QB battle, but things are certainly getting down to the wire with the season opener just three weeks away. Rattler has pulled the most first-team work throughout camp, including taking the first team reps in both team-on-team scrimmages and the joint practice with the Rams. It was a bit of a slow start for Shough, whom the Saints picked No. 40 overall, but he's come on strong in recent weeks and he was the lone Saints QB to lead a touchdown drive against the Chargers, though he was also responsible for a pick-6 in the third quarter.
The last time the Saints had a QB competition was in the 2021 season. That year it was Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill facing off, with the competition decided in Week 2 of the preseason. That game also featured the Saints hosting the Jaguars at the Caesars Superdome, with Jameis drawing the start and throwing multiple touchdown passes.
Time will tell if history repeats itself.
