Rookie Spencer Rattler will start for the Saints in Week 6.
Saints head coach Dennis Allen announced the decision on Wednesday with starting QB Derek Carr expected to miss multiple weeks with an oblique injury.
The Saints selected Rattler in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL draft. Dennis Allen said the decision was made after conversations among the coaching staff, with the determination made that the rookie gives the Saints “the best chance to win” when the team hosts the Bucs at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday.
“I think we just, internally talked a lot about it and felt like in this particular game that he was gonna give us the best chance," Allen said. "Both him and Jake [Haener], both have been practicing extremely hard, preparing to be the starter. It was kind of the conversation that we had at the beginning of the year that, you know, Jake would be the 2 to start, but ... [it was] basically gonna be kind of a week to week deal, and we just felt like this, for this game, was gonna give us the best opportunity.”
The choice was a mystery because it’s been Jake Haener serving as the gameday backup through the first five weeks, and he’s the QB who took over after Carr left the game with an oblique injury late in the loss to the Chiefs. Haener went 2-7 passing for 17 yards before the final drive ended with a turnover on downs.
Rattler’s preseason performances generated significant excitement throughout the fanbase, and that will likely be represented well on Sunday. The rookie had strong showings against the Cardinals and Titans in the preseason, leading multiple touchdown drives including one for a game-winning field goal in the preseason opener. Rattler has also been working with scout team during game weeks and has impressed coaches with what he’s done against the first-team defense in those settings.
Rattler, considered a potential top QB pick coming of high school in Arizona saw his star fade somewhat at Oklahoma, where he was supplanted by this year’s No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Rattler transferring to South Carolina where he started for multiple seasons and was considered by many to be a fringe first round prospect before falling to the Saints on Day 3.
Week 6 will mark the first time the Saints started a rookie at QB since 2022 when Ian Book was forced into action on Monday Night Football with a significant portion of the roster out with COVID. Allen made it clear that Rattler wouldn’t be looking over his shoulder for the hook in the game.
“I think you’ve got to let the guy go in there and play, you know what I mean?" Allen said. "We’re not going into this game saying you make a mistake and we’re gonna pull you. He’s going in to play. He’s gonna start. He’s gonna lead the team, and I think we go from there.”
While the decision comes with a level of excitement over a glimpse of a young player who could represent the team’s QB future, it also comes with significant implications. The Saints are currently mired in a three-game losing streak that they’ll need to correct soon to avoid falling well back in the division race. If they can’t end the skid against the Bucs, they’ll face a quick turnaround for a matchup with Sean Payton’s Broncos the following Thursday.
“I think he’s a pretty quick learner," Allen said. "I thought as he went along I thought it got better every single day and when he had opportunities in games I thought he went out and produced and played well, you know, so hopefully that’ll continue in regular season games.”
